Southampton target Paul Onuachu is “suddenly back in the picture” at St. Mary’s as we near the transfer window’s deadline, journalist Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.
Nathan Jones could be on the verge of sealing the signing of a centre-forward that the Saints have desired throughout January.
Southampton transfer news – Paul Onuachu
According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Onuachu’s move from Genk to Southampton is now a done deal, with the two clubs agreeing on a fee close to £16m plus bonuses.
The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell has suggested that the deal could be worth closer to £18.5m after Jones desired a physical centre-forward at St. Mary’s, with the Saints looking to secure their Premier League survival in the second half of the campaign.
The 6 foot 7 striker will become the south coast club’s fourth addition of the transfer window after the club welcomed Mislav Oršić, Carlos Alcaraz and James Bree earlier this month.
Jones has previously told GiveMeSport that he expects Onuachu to be a good signing for the former Luton Town manager’s squad, with the marksman being more experienced and older than some of the names that had initially been linked with a move to St. Mary’s.
And Jones believes that Deadline Day has been a “wild ride” for Southampton fans with the club having been desperate for the signature of a forward heading into the window’s final hours.
What has Jones said about Southampton and Onuachu?
Jones told GiveMeSport: “Now, after no movement on Onuachu for almost 24 hours, he’s suddenly back in the picture. What a wild ride this is for Saints fans.”
Will Onuachu be a good signing for Southampton?
Onuachu’s presence up front is desperately required at Southampton, with the Premier League’s basement side having scored just 17 goals in the top flight this season.
The 28-year-old has enjoyed a tremendous season with Genk, having bagged 16 goals in 19 appearances in the Pro League, suggesting that he could be just the answer to Jones’ problems if he can transfer that form to English football.
Unsurprisingly, the 18-cap Nigeria international’s displays in the Belgian top flight have earned him an impressive Sofascore rating of 7.15, having scored at a frequency of one goal every 74 minutes and achieving an impressive conversion rate of 39%.
Therefore, Jones will finally feel that after a month of negotiating for various strikers, he has secured himself a reliable presence at the focal point of the Saints attack, as the south coast club look to remain in the Premier League come the end of the season.
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