Southampton are willing to retain striker Paul Onuachu at St Mary’s if they don’t receive a suitable offer for him, which could result in an unexpected transfer decision, according to journalist Adam Blackmore.
Onuachu spent last season on loan at Trabzonspor, where he netted 17 goals in 25 matches across all competitions for the Turkish club. While Trabzonspor is reportedly interested in signing the 6’7″ forward permanently, they have yet to submit a proposal that meets Southampton’s financial expectations.
Although the south coast club is keen to offload the Nigerian striker this summer to fund new signings, they are not prepared to approve a deal that falls short of their valuation. Blackmore suggests that manager Russell Martin might consider keeping Onuachu in the squad next season, possibly using him as a backup option from the bench.
Saints May Keep Onuachu at St Mary’s
Martin prepared to retain striker if demands are not met
After developing his skills at FC Midtjylland in Denmark, Paul Onuachu became a dependable goalscorer, netting 74 goals in 181 appearances for the Danish Superliga club. This success earned him a move to Genk in Belgium, where he continued to impress, notably scoring 35 goals during the 2020/21 season.
His prolific form caught the attention of Southampton, who signed the towering striker for £18 million in February 2023. Despite being a 24-cap Nigeria international, Onuachu made just eleven appearances for Southampton during the latter part of the season, as the club was relegated from the Premier League to the Championship.
Onuachu was subsequently loaned to Turkey, where another strong season reignited interest from overseas clubs. However, no acceptable offers have been made yet, which could see the 30-year-old included in Russell Martin’s plans for the upcoming season.
With Adam Armstrong netting 21 goals in the Championship last season and firmly established as Martin’s first-choice striker, and Ben Brereton Diaz arriving from Villarreal, playing time for Onuachu at St Mary’s next season could be limited. However, given Southampton’s determination to avoid relegation, having three different options who are proven goalscorers could be valuable for the former Swansea City manager.
| Onuachu’s Super Lig Statistics 2023/24 | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 21 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Shots Per 90 | 3.61 |
| Shots on Target Per 90 | 1.42 |
| Fouls Drawn Per 90 | 1.89 |
Carvalho Pinpointed as Target Amid Bid
Liverpool have rejected opening proposal for winger
Providing this array of strikers with scoring opportunities will be a priority for Martin next season, and it seems the head coach is actively seeking midfielders who can facilitate this. Celtic’s Matt O’Riley has been strongly linked with a move to St Mary’s, though the Denmark international’s price tag might be beyond Southampton’s budget.
The club has reportedly made a £15 million bid for Liverpool’s Fabio Carvalho, potentially viewing him as an alternative to O’Riley. However, the offer was rejected by Liverpool, who are reportedly seeking a ‘significantly’ higher fee than what Southampton proposed.
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