Neil Warnock is surprised by the transfer from Chuba Akpom to Ajax. The 74-year-old trainer did not expect Middlesbrough to be able to sell the attacker for so much money. Ajax paid an amount of 12.3 million for the arrival of Akpom. Due to bonuses, the transfer fee can even rise to 14.3 million euros.
That’s a lot of money for someone who was still at a dead end at Middlebsrough a year ago, says Warnock. “I wish him the best of luck. I like Michael Carrick (Middlesbrough’s coach, ed.). I think he did well. It’s a bloody miracle that Middlesbrough has received 14.3 million euros for him. They did a good job,” Warnock told English media.
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Where Akpom scored 28 league goals for Middlesbrough last season, he was not known as a goal thief before that. “I think the people at the top of the club are happy to have brought in this amount. I think we (Warnock is Huddersfield Town manager, ed.) played quite well against them. They have these two two new players and Michael is a good guy. Only he could get the most out of Akpom.”
At Middlesbrough, Akpom was posted just behind the deepest striker in his final season. It turned out to be a hit. “I never thought of using him there. He can’t play in the front. I hope Ajax didn’t buy him for the striker position, otherwise he will be back in England next year or he will play somewhere else.”
