Southampton have clinched their return to the Premier League ahead of the 2024/25 season, after a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the Play-Off final.
One man who’s future lies uncertain, is Nigerian forward Paul Onuachu. The 30-year-old spent last season on loan at Trabzonspor, while the Saints earned a fourth-placed Championship finish. The former Genk player scored 17 goals in 25 appearances while in Turkey, but may not be given another chance in England.
The South England side want to offload Onuachu this summer, potentially to relieve their wage bill but also to recover some of their expenditure on his initial signing in January 2023. Having only made 12 appearances and not finding the back of the net, the ex-Midtjylland star clearly isn’t in Russell Martin’s long or short-term plans.
According to Give Me Sport, the Saints will look to contact clubs in the Super Lig, as well as hint at a potential domestic deal for Onuachu – which could allow a competitive rival to take a chance on the Nigerian. The forward has two years remaining on his deal, so Martin’s side are in the ‘driver’s seat’ in terms of negotiation leniency.
Interestingly, Southampton are in no rush to gain a profit on the 30-year-old as their £140 million prize money will compliment their previous summer business nicely. Over £150 million has been received by the Saints for the sales of: Romeo Lavia to Chelsea, Tino Livramento to Newcastle, and James Ward-Prowse to West Ham United.
FotMob suggests that Onuachu’s numbers are highly competitive among those in the same league last season. With an impressive stature of 6 foot 7 inches, this has allowed the forward to win 61.3% of aerial duels, ranking in the 96th percentile. This unique profile demonstrates the threat that the 30-year-old imposes on opposition defenders and is a nightmare to battle against during set pieces.
Writer’s View
Onuachu didn’t impress in his short spell at Southampton. However, it seems slightly naïve to give up on him now. Coming off the back of a 17-goal season, albeit in a lesser-quality league, should warrant at least a pre-season opportunity ahead of a relegation-battling campaign.
Martin clearly has a plan without the Nigerian forward though, and Saints fans should trust that the 38-year-old knows what he’s doing after an impressive promotion. The Scotsman’s need for possession-based play completely contrasts the profile that Onuachu has, meaning unfortunately his time is up.
