Belgian side STVV want permanent Chuba Akpom deal after Arsenal striker impresses on loan

Belgian side STVV want to make Chuba Akpom’s loan stay with them a permanent one after the Arsenal striker netted his first goal of the season.

In his third appearance for the Canaries Akpom scored the game’s only goal, a superb run and long-range drive and his first in senior football in over two years, to secure STVV a crucial 1-0 win over Anderlecht.

Over several loan spells in the Championship Akpom struggled to fulfil the potential that meant he was so highly regarded in the Arsenal youth setup and earned him a four-and-a-half year contract extension early in 2015.

Arsenal would not stand in Akpom’s way should he want to move on after failing to make the grade in Arsene Wenger’s first-team and STVV have made clear that they would want to sign the 22-year-old.

“We exclude nothing, but everything depends on Arsenal,” assistant manager Chris O’Loughlin told Het Belang van Limburg.

“I don’t think they can already answer about their plans for Chuba next season. It is too early for that.”

Akpom has spent time at Championship sides Nottingham Forest, Hull and Brighton but only with the second of those sides did he manage a consistent run of games, scoring seven goals in 42 appearances during the 2015-16 season.