Sources: Cardiff City plot move to sign Middlesbrough striker Ikpeazu
Cardiff City are plotting a move to sign Middlesbrough striker Uche Ikpeazu, Football Insider understands.
Boro boss Chris Wilder revealed earlier this month the club were willing to let 25-year-old leave following the arrivals of Aaron Connelly and Folarin Balogun from Brighton and Arsenal respectively.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Cardiff are leading the race for Ikpeazu ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.
There is competition from a number of other clubs, who have expressed an interest in signing Ikpeazu this month.
The striker has featured off the bench in Boro’s recent Championship games but has failed to make an impact.
He has only been handed 46 minutes of action in his last seven league outings.
However, he did find the net in this month’s 3-2 FA Cup win over Mansfield Town, his first goal for Boro since 18 August.
Cardiff are on the hunt for more firepower in their bid to escape a relegation battle.
The Bluebirds sit 20th in the Championship, just three points off the relegation zone.
Ikpeazu impressed for former club Wycombe in the Championship last term.
He scored six goals for the Chairboys as they were relegated to the third tier.
Ikpeazu also hit the ground running with two goals and an assist in his first three Championship games for Middlesbrough.
However, he has failed to find the net in the league since.
Ikpeazu’s most prolific spell was for Cambridge United during the 2017-18 season where he scored 14 goals in 44 games across all competitions.
The striker’s contract at the Riverside expires in June 2024.
In other news, a pundit has backed Middlesbrough to swoop for a Premier League ace.