Exclusive: Birmingham City to launch move for German forward after Chuba Akpom miss | OneFootball

Marvin Ducksch's potential move to the Midlands looks to be back ON after a development in the Chuba Akpom saga...

Birmingham City will reignite their interest in Marvin Ducksch now that their bid for Chuba Akpom appears over, Football League World has been exclusively informed.

The Werder Bremen forward - who picked up a calf injury during pre-season training four weeks ago - was among those being looked at by the ambitious St. Andrew’s club.

But the recruitment masters at Blues - including sporting director Craig Gardner - are believed to have had a number of plates spinning with regard to adding further firepower to the ranks.

Birmingham City set to miss out on Chuba Akpom to Ipswich Town

And they are ready to turn back to the 31-year-old Bundesliga ace now that their hopes of sealing a deal for ex-Arsenal academy graduate Akpom are falling flat.

It looked as though Brum and Middlesbrough were fighting it out for the 29-year-old striker.

But the Tractor Boys have thrown their hat into the ring - and it appears as though their extra financial clout is going to sway the day, despite Birmingham putting in a permanent £6 million bid for the forward after their initial offer was a loan with an obligation to buy if promoted.

Both Birmingham and Boro have cash to spend in the market, but Kieran McKenna’s side are among the favourites to return to the Premier League and boast money from their parachute payment.

This has enabled them to move for Akpom, who enjoyed the most productive time of his career in the second tier when he played for Boro for three seasons from 2020-23.

His career has spluttered along since then and he was in and out of the Ajax side last season before being loaned out to Lille in the second half of the campaign, but clearly retains support in the English domestic game.

Ironically, if the deal is concluded in time, he could turn out for the Suffolk side on Friday when they kick-off their campaign at St. Andrew’s.

But their disappointment in failing to get Akpom is set to trigger a return for Ducksch.

Marvin Ducksch back on Birmingham City radar after Chuba Akpom disappointment

FLW reported a number of weeks ago that City were closing in on a move for Werder Bremen forward Ducksch, but talks appeared to stall between all parties, as well as the Germany international being sidelined.

It’s now four weeks since the injury issue that blighted the forward’s return to training with Die Werderaner, but that does not appear to have put Birmingham's recruitment team off as they eye up a fresh deal for the 31-year-old.

Ducksch, who has been capped twice for Germany's national team squad in friendlies - both of which came in 2023 - scored eight times in the Bundesliga last season for Bremen, as well as notching nine assists in his 32 appearances, and he has just one year remaining on his contract at the Weserstadion.

Brum will be hoping that they can resurrect that deal - but they do have other options - although Ducksch remains high on their list of priorities.