Paul Onuachu: Big Fish in Small Pond

 

With 55 league goals to his name in the last two seasons for KRC Genk, it is almost shocking that Super Eagles striker, Paul Onuachu, is still playing outside the top five leagues in Europe despite several top European clubs being linked to his name. The status quo would indeed remain the same for now after the Belgian side had declared that the Nigerian is not available in the winter transfer market 

Against the highly anticipated winter transfer of Super Eagles striker, Paul Onuachu from KRC Genk to Premier League side, Aston Villa, the Belgian club have however declared that their jewel striker would not be available for sale when the January transfer window opens, despite initially revealing that the striker could leave for €25m.

Aston Villa have recently been linked to Onuachu, who has long been tipped to move to a bigger league since he emerged top scorer in Belgium in the last two seasons.

The Midlands club are looking to add more firepower to their attack despite new manager, Unai Emery, having Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings at his disposal.

According to Belgian website, voetbalkrant.com, four-time Belgian champions Genk are reluctant to allow the 28-year-old leave as they are chasing their first league championship since 2019.

Their other Belgian league conquests were in 2011, 2002 and 1999.

After 17 rounds of matches, Genk are 10 points clear at the top of the table in the regular season with 46 points from 17 league games.

“We don’t think he (Onuachu) will leave this season because this could be their best chance to win another title,” the website said.

The Nigeria international has been in the headlines over the years as a result of his goal-scoring feat for the Belgian Pro League outfit.

Onuachu scored 33 goals in 38 league appearances for the Smurfs two seasons ago.

He was also the club’s top scorer last season with 21 goals in 35 league outings.

This season, he has already registered 13 goals in 14 league appearances.

Onuachu has been a standout performer for the Limburgers in the last two seasons.

Two seasons ago, the Nigerian striker recorded 34 league goals and his exploits did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded the Best Player in Belgium.

After his achievement, the Super Eagles striker was expected to seal a move away from the club. However, despite links to Lyon, Arsenal, and West Ham, Genk kept him.

Onuachu never hid his desire to leave Genk for another club. But he has been professional about it.

The speculation surrounding the big Nigerian striker have not ended, as he also performed well last season where he recorded 23 goals in 41 appearances.

A move away from the Jupiler league was largely expected when the 28-year-old scored 34 league goals penultimate season, but it didn’t happen largely due to Genk’s valuation but they have since dropped their asking price. A source who approached the player with a deal from a Serie A side was told by his management team that he is heading to the English Premier League next summer as an agreement was already in place. But it was not to be.

“We had an offer for him to consider. So, he directed us to his new management team. They told us Genk have reached agreement for his sale to a team in the English Premier League,” Several reports in the Belgium media tends to also agree with that stand as it was widely reported that Onuachu would leave the team in the summer with fellow Nigerian Cyriel Dessers as his replacement.

Dessers has impressed mightily on loan to Feyenoord but the Dutch side don’t have the €4m required to make the deal permanent and Genk are not willing to compromise on their stand.”

A €6 million arrival from Midtjylland in 2019, Onuachu found the back of the net a whopping 21 times last season despite the spate of injuries that denied him of playing time, making him one of the best performing centre forwards across Europe.

Speaking to Genk’s official YouTube page, Onuachu said: “For me you never know what the future holds but I think scoring a lot of goals this season for KRC Genk and of course my career it is going to be one of the most important periods for me.

“It is going to be difficult to say I’m going to repeat it where I am going but I think the players we have in this team really make all this possible for me, but like I said earlier you don’t know what the future holds.

“As it is now I think I’m really happy for the figure I have in the league and of course for KRC Genk.”

The Nigerian international struggled in his first year in Belgium but won the hearts of many after delivering numerous excellent performances.

Onuachu indeed admitted that the Belgian First Division A is a challenging championship, but the determination to push himself beyond the limit helped him become the best in the country.

The 28-year-old only managed nine goals in 22 matches in his maiden campaign three seasons ago after completing his switch from Danish side FC Midtjylland.

But his turnaround in fortunes, 12 months later, has been evident for all to see. Onuachu is clear about how he was able to improve his efficiency in front of goal.

“I struggled a bit when I arrived here. At the start of the season, I said to myself that I had to push myself more and give more.

“I am proud of myself and my team, and I am happy to have the support of my companion, who is always behind me.”

Lazio, Sevilla, and Lyon are among the top European clubs ready to lure Onuachu to one of the continent’s big five leagues.

The big striker, however, refuses to hide his affection for English Premier League giants Arsenal. “Arsenal is the club of my dreams,” Onuachu continued.

“It is the club that I support, that I like to watch, and whose style of play I like.

“However, I am still in Belgium, and I am still a player of Genk.”

The forward has a year left on his current contract but he is unsure of seeing out the deal with a number of European clubs believed to be interested in signing him in the summer.

Onuachu has been with Blue and White since the summer of 2019 when he teamed up with the side from Midtjylland.

The attacker delivered scintillating performances in front of goal during his time with the Danish club to earn a move to Genk.

Against the highly anticipated winter transfer of Super Eagles striker, Paul Onuachu from KRC Genk to Premier League side, Aston Villa, the Belgian club have however declared that their jewel striker would not be available for sale when the January transfer window opens, despite initially revealing that the striker could leave for €25m.

Aston Villa have recently been linked to Onuachu, who has long been tipped to move to a bigger league since he emerged top scorer in Belgium in the last two seasons.

The Midlands club are looking to add more firepower to their attack despite new manager, Unai Emery, having Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings at his disposal.

According to Belgian website, voetbalkrant.com, four-time Belgian champions Genk are reluctant to allow the 28-year-old leave as they are chasing their first league championship since 2019.

Their other Belgian league conquests were in 2011, 2002 and 1999.

After 17 rounds of matches, Genk are 10 points clear at the top of the table in the regular season with 46 points from 17 league games.

“We don’t think he (Onuachu) will leave this season because this could be their best chance to win another title,” the website said.

The Nigeria international has been in the headlines over the years as a result of his goal-scoring feat for the Belgian Pro League outfit.

Onuachu scored 33 goals in 38 league appearances for the Smurfs two seasons ago.

He was also the club’s top scorer last season with 21 goals in 35 league outings.

This season, he has already registered 13 goals in 14 league appearances.

Onuachu has been a standout performer for the Limburgers in the last two seasons.

Two seasons ago, the Nigerian striker recorded 34 league goals and his exploits did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded the Best Player in Belgium.

After his achievement, the Super Eagles striker was expected to seal a move away from the club. However, despite links to Lyon, Arsenal, and West Ham, Genk kept him.

Onuachu never hid his desire to leave Genk for another club. But he has been professional about it.

The speculation surrounding the big Nigerian striker have not ended, as he also performed well last season where he recorded 23 goals in 41 appearances.

A move away from the Jupiler league was largely expected when the 28-year-old scored 34 league goals penultimate season, but it didn’t happen largely due to Genk’s valuation but they have since dropped their asking price. A source who approached the player with a deal from a Serie A side was told by his management team that he is heading to the English Premier League next summer as an agreement was already in place. But it was not to be.

“We had an offer for him to consider. So, he directed us to his new management team. They told us Genk have reached agreement for his sale to a team in the English Premier League,” Several reports in the Belgium media tends to also agree with that stand as it was widely reported that Onuachu would leave the team in the summer with fellow Nigerian Cyriel Dessers as his replacement.

Dessers has impressed mightily on loan to Feyenoord but the Dutch side don’t have the €4m required to make the deal permanent and Genk are not willing to compromise on their stand.”

A €6 million arrival from Midtjylland in 2019, Onuachu found the back of the net a whopping 21 times last season despite the spate of injuries that denied him of playing time, making him one of the best performing centre forwards across Europe.

Speaking to Genk’s official YouTube page, Onuachu said: “For me you never know what the future holds but I think scoring a lot of goals this season for KRC Genk and of course my career it is going to be one of the most important periods for me.

“It is going to be difficult to say I’m going to repeat it where I am going but I think the players we have in this team really make all this possible for me, but like I said earlier you don’t know what the future holds.

“As it is now I think I’m really happy for the figure I have in the league and of course for KRC Genk.”

The Nigerian international struggled in his first year in Belgium but won the hearts of many after delivering numerous excellent performances.

Onuachu indeed admitted that the Belgian First Division A is a challenging championship, but the determination to push himself beyond the limit helped him become the best in the country.

The 28-year-old only managed nine goals in 22 matches in his maiden campaign three seasons ago after completing his switch from Danish side FC Midtjylland.

But his turnaround in fortunes, 12 months later, has been evident for all to see. Onuachu is clear about how he was able to improve his efficiency in front of goal.

“I struggled a bit when I arrived here. At the start of the season, I said to myself that I had to push myself more and give more.

“I am proud of myself and my team, and I am happy to have the support of my companion, who is always behind me.”

Lazio, Sevilla, and Lyon are among the top European clubs ready to lure Onuachu to one of the continent’s big five leagues.

The big striker, however, refuses to hide his affection for English Premier League giants Arsenal. “Arsenal is the club of my dreams,” Onuachu continued.

“It is the club that I support, that I like to watch, and whose style of play I like.

“However, I am still in Belgium, and I am still a player of Genk.”

The forward has a year left on his current contract but he is unsure of seeing out the deal with a number of European clubs believed to be interested in signing him in the summer.

Onuachu has been with Blue and White since the summer of 2019 when he teamed up with the side from Midtjylland.

The attacker delivered scintillating performances in front of goal during his time with the Danish club to earn a move to Genk.