Onuachu doesn’t want to return to Southampton
Southampton defeated Leeds United 1-0 in the final play-off on Sunday to gain promotion to the English Premier League but Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu may not be with the Saints when they take to the pitch during the 2024/25 season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
According to a Turkish outlet, Kuzey Ekspres, the Nigerian international is making attempts to negotiate with his club to facilitate his stay.
“Paul Onuachu will ask Southampton to facilitate the transfer to the claret-blue club in order to be transferred to Trabzonspor,” the outlet wrote on X.
Following an impressive performance for KRC Genk in the Belgian League, Onuachu caught the attention of the Saints who eventually paid €18m to sign him during the January transfer window of the 2022/23 season.
The lanky striker failed to replicate his fantastic form as he struggled to adapt to life in England, failing to score in all 12 of his appearances for the Saints, which led to a season-long loan move away from the club.
With the Black Sea Storm, the red-hot Onuachu has scored 17 goals and provided 4 assists in 25 matches, catching the eye of Trabzonspor, who are keen to extend his stay in Trabzon.
However, their subsequent proposal to extend the loan at the same rate was rejected by Southampton, who are holding out for a transfer fee of €15m.
The latest report from Kuzey Ekspres indicates that the striker is keen on a stay in Turkey rather than a return to England despite their promotion to the Premier League.
Onuachu signed a three-year deal with Southampton during the January 2023 transfer window, with his contract set to expire in 2026.
The 29-year-old is part of the Eagles squad that will face South Africa and the Benin Republic next month in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
