Arsenal and Aston Villa remain interested in Genk striker Paul Onuachu, one of Europe’s in-demand players.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Genk striker Paul Onuachu is attracting interest from many clubs across England and Europe. Arsenal and Aston Villa are among the sides who seem to retain an interest in the lanky striker.
Onuachu has been sensational for Genk since he broke into the first team, after signing from FC Midtjylland. The Nigerian’s goalscoring numbers have been stunning year after year, suggesting his development at the Belgian side has been top-notch.
Onuachu has scored 39 goals in 45 league appearances so far, and this term, he has 18 goals to show for in all competitions. Naturally, with numbers like that, many clubs have shown an interest in signing the Nigerian striker, who harbours dreams of emulating Napoli striker Victor Oshimen in the future.
Among those interested are Arsenal and Aston Villa, among other high-profile clubs. These two clubs are eager to acquire him for the long-term future. Based on his Belgian league stats, he does offer plenty of promise, although it would be a tricky decision to choose between the many interested clubs.
Arsenal are looking for a striker to offset the probable departures of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah. The Genk star will likely replace the English forward, as the Gunners may target a more high-profile, established option to replace the Frenchman.
Onuachu could be a good option for Mikel Arteta, who continues looking for a specific player to fit into his squad rebuild plans. Recent reports pointed towards Arsenal’s interest in Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic, while Andrea Belotti was also linked in the past weeks. Onuachu might not be a starting player for Arsenal if he signs up, although he could develop under Arteta to become a proper striker in a year or two.
Aston Villa are also interested in Onuachu as they have struggled for goals. The Premier League side might try and move for him in the January window to prise him away before the big clubs potentially swoop in the summer. Ollie Watkins and summer signing Danny Ings have been paired regularly up front this season, without much effect.
So, manager Dean Smith might be tempted to bring in another option, possibly as a backup to their existing players. Onuachu may not necessarily dwell on the status of his potential new club and think more about regular game-time and development. Aston Villa could be a good stepping stone before he signs for a bigger side, either in the Premier League or Europe.
Onuachu might not come cheaply for either side. He has an existing contract until 2024, and Genk will demand a reasonable transfer fee for the 27-year-old. It will be interesting to see if either of these clubs make a move to snap up the Nigerian in the near future.
