Arsenal transfer news: Chuba Akpom set to leave on loan this week with Norwich and Nottingham Forest leading the pack

19-year-old striker likely to make a move to the Championship before Thursday's deadline

Jack Pitt-Brooke

Tuesday 24 March 2015 11:27 GMT

Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom looks set to go out on loan (Getty Images)

Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom is set go on loan to a Championship side in the next few days, with seven clubs hoping to sign the 19-year-old.

Norwich City and Nottingham Forest are leading the race to sign Gunners striker Akpom, who is currently training with England’s Under-20 squad. Bournemouth, Ipswich Town, Derby County, Wigan Athletic and Fulham are also interested in recruiting Akpom, who will make his decisions based on the club who would give him the most first-team opportunities. The loan deadline for Championship teams is on Thursday afternoon.

Akpom signed a new four-and-a-half year deal at Arsenal in January, turning down the chance to sign for Dutch sides Feyenoord and FC Twente. He has made seven substitute appearances for Arsenal so far this season.

The players Arsenal nearly signed

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1/9The players Arsenal nearly signed

The players Arsenal nearly signed

Harry Kane

Arsenal supporting Harry Kane was on the books at Arsenal but aged eight was allowed to leave, making his breakthrough season at local rivals Tottenham all the more harder to take.

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The players Arsenal nearly signed

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

A fee had been agreed for the then 19-year-old but then Wenger requested that the Swede play in a trial match. The mercurial striker replied he didn't 'do auditions' and went on to win league titles with every club he ever played at.

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The players Arsenal nearly signed

Didier Drogba

Now a Chelsea legend, Wenger revealed that he could have signed the Ivorian for just £100,000 when the striker was playing for Le Mans. Drogba was watched many times before eventually being overlooked.

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The players Arsenal nearly signed

Angel Di Maria

Wenger had the chance to sign Angel Di Maria for absolutely nothing when the Argentinian was a 17-year-old. But work permit issues got in the way and he ended up at Manchester United for £59.7, via Benfica and Real Madrid.

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The players Arsenal nearly signed

Yaya Toure

With his brother Kolo at the club at the time, the Ivorian featured for Arsenal in a friendly against Barnet. But work permit issues got in the way and the winner of multiple African player of the year awards eventually ended up at Barcelona and then Manchester City.

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The players Arsenal nearly signed

Lionel Messi

Wenger apparently identified Messi's talents at an early age and according to some reports even offered the Argentinian a contract. It didn't come through and Messi went on to become the best player on the planet.

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The players Arsenal nearly signed

Cristiano Ronaldo

The three-time winner of the Ballon d'Or was apparently shown around Arsenal's training camp at London Colney and even given a shirt with his name on the back. But Manchester United stole in after seeing Ronaldo rip them apart during a friendly with Sporting Lisbon.

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The players Arsenal nearly signed

Vincent Kompany

The now Manchester City captain was nearly snapped up as a youngster as Wenger sought a long-term replacement for Sol Campbell. The £5m fee Anderlecht were demanding was baulked at by the Arsenal manager though.

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The players Arsenal nearly signed

Petr Cech

Arguably the most consistent goalkeeper ever to play in the Premier League was heavily scouted by Arsenal but when the possibility of signing him from Sparta Prague was raised work permit issues got in the way. Cech also claims that Arsenal's chief scout at the time had reservations about his ability.

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Meanwhile Arsenal’s young Argentinian goalkeeper Emi Martinez has joined Championship side Rotherham on an emergency loan and played in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

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