Sint-Truiden are waiting for Chuba Akpom to arrive as the ‘great liberator’ according to a Belgian report following the side’s latest friendly that saw them lose 1-0 to Royal Excel Mouscron on Friday.

Arsenal and the Belgians are close to an agreement that would see Akpom, who signed for Arsenal when he was just six-years-old, return to the side he played on loan for part of last season.

The Hale End graduate was left out of the squad that travelled to Singapore and seems set to return to Sint-Truiden, where he scored six goals in 16 appearances after moving there temporarily in January.

Arsenal have been in negotiations with a number of clubs regarding Akpom’s transfer but the Belgians look set to win the race for the 22-year-old.

Akpom has 12 appearances for the senior Arsenal team and just two assists to show for it. 33 goals in 50 u23 games, as well as four in six with three assists in the Uefa Youth League, shows a talent that has not quite translated in to senior success just yet for Chubs.

Arsenal are expected to receive £2m for his transfer. He has just one year left on his current Arsenal contract.