Middlesbrough FC and Birmingham City 'plotting moves' for Lorient's Arthur Avom after summer Hull City links
Middlesbrough and Birmingham City have been credited with interest in a midfielder previously linked with Hull City
Middlesbrough are reportedly plotting an ambitious swoop for Lorient midfielder Arthur Avom.
A senior Cameroon international, Avom has not missed a single Ligue 1 game for his employers this season.
He was linked with a move to Yorkshire in the summer, when Hull City were credited with interest, but a move to the Premier League did not materialise.
Middlesbrough linked with Ligue 1 midfielder
Speculation has now resurfaced, with Middlesbrough among his admirers according to Football League World.
The high-flying Championship outfit are said to be plotting a move alongside Birmingham City, who are among their rivals in the promotion race.
Avom’s contract is due to expire at the end of the 2026/27 season and the prospect of landing the 21-year-old in a bargain deal could prove tempting.
A central midfielder by trade, Avom is comfortable playing as a defensive anchor or as a forward-thinking playmaker.
He has made a total of 77 appearances for Lorient, scoring four goals and registering seven assists.
Middlesbrough’s ambition
Luring Avom into the second tier could prove to be a difficult task, although the ambition of Boro and the Blues cannot be questioned.
Both clubs have made significant investments into their respective playing squads and are somewhat unsurpisingly sat as the second tier’s top two sides.
Birmingham went top at the weekend as Middlesbrough were held to a goalless draw by Watford, a result that left Hellberg frustrated.
He said: “Overall I’m very happy with how we’ve started the season – 14 games in, I’m happy with how brave we’ve been and how many points we have got.
“We were not good enough, or perform how we want to look, at Wrexham, and the performance here in terms of energy was so important for us.
“Of course when I look at the scoresheet and see it’s 0-0, my honest answer is that I’m very angry and disappointed over that because with all those chances created, all those beautiful attacks we had, it’s disappointing we didn’t win the game.”