According to Fotospor, Southampton striker Paul Onuachu is drawing interest from Turkey as a result of his outstanding first season in the nation while on loan with Trabzonspor.
The 29-year-old recently moved to the Saints from Belgian team Genk in January, where he scored 85 goals in 134 games, for a reported cost of about £18 million. Then-manager Nathan Jones recruited him in an attempt to provide more firepower to their Premier League survival battle. But the attacker failed to score in his 11 top league games, and the former Luton Town manager was fired soon after.
Russell Martin took over in the summer after Jones was fired, with Ruben Selles serving as temporary manager. It was evident that Martin did not share the Nigerian international’s sentiments. Joseph Paintsil was the subject of a trade arrangement that included a return to Genk; Southampton was sharply chastised by the Pro League team for their pursuit of the winger.
This season, Onuachu played just once for the Hampshire team, a quick cameo in the Carabao Cup first round loss to Gillingham. After that, he signed a season-long loan with Trabzonspor. In his first three games for the Super Lig team, he scored three goals. On Saturday, he scored his fourth goal of the year in the 3-2 victory over Fenerbahce, which moved the team onto the top four.
Turkey-based media state that while at least one other team in the same tier has expressed interest in the striker due to his early-season success, his temporary suitors are not actively investigating a permanent transfer for next summer. Trabzonspor reportedly approached Southampton to inquire about a possible cost, but were informed that another Super Lig team had also made inquiries.
It is anticipated that the Championship team will want to permanently release the player by the summer, but they will also want to recoup as much of their initial investment as they can. His present form will undoubtedly advance their goals.
Writer’s Opinion
It’s puzzling that Onuachu, who has also excelled at Trabzonspor, was unable to carry over his success from Genk and the Danish team Midtjylland to Southampton. But his time at St. Mary’s was sporadic, and he never really received a fair shot in the starting lineup.
Whether this is merely a ploy by the Saints to try to increase the price, or whether any other Turkish clubs are interested in him come summertime, will be intriguing to see.
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