Arsenal starlet Chuba Akpom edging closer to Championship loan

Nottingham Forest are still hopeful of signing Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom on loan until the end of the season.

The Gunners teenager, who signed a new long-term deal with the Gunners in February, reportedly held talks with Norwich City on Saturday (21 March) after they secured a 3-1 defeat over Forest at Carrow Road to lift them to within three points of league leaders Bournemouth.

While first team opportunities in north London are likely to come at a premium for the rest of the season with Arsenal engrossed in a race for second place in the Premier League, another loan move is likely to beckon for the 19-year-old.

There are reportedly up to 12 clubs vying to sign Akpom ahead of the close of the emergency loan window on 26 March.

And while Norwich would appear to have the greater incentive to offer with a battle for the Championship on the horizon, Forest manager Dougie Freedman is still hopeful of clinching a deal despite their financial limitations.

When asked if he still hoped to sign a striker this week, Freedman said: "We are always hopeful. The player we are talking about was actually at the ground – but to talk to Norwich," the Nottingham Post reports.

"That is the level of competition we are at. We are in there competing with everyone, but so are many other teams.

"It is going to be very, very hard. Norwich and other sides who are not under an embargo can come in and offer more money. The same with happened with Chris Wood [who signed for Ipswich Town from Leicester City] when we tried to sign him. That is going to happen.

"We have not ended our interest in him. He was here to talk to Norwich, which is fine. I do know he has a number of teams who are in for him and I believe he will make his decision on Monday or Tuesday.

"I hope we get the opportunity to meet up with him. We will not talk about money, we will not talk about anything other than how we can improve him as a player."