Premier League club Southampton have informed striker Paul Onuachu that he does not feature in their future plans and has been asked to find a new club ahead of the January transfer window. The decision comes as the club seeks to offload several players to free up budget for new signings as they fight to avoid relegation, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Onuachu, who joined Southampton from KRC Genk in a deal worth €18 million in 2023, has struggled for playing time, managing just 134 minutes of action across seven appearances.
The towering Nigerian forward has not been able to make a significant impact at St Mary’s, and Southampton are keen to move him on as part of their squad overhaul.
Interest in Onuachu has emerged from top Belgian side Club Brugge, who are reportedly working on a deal to bring him back to the Belgian Pro League.
Club Brugge are looking to secure a transfer for under €10 million, although Southampton will be aiming to recoup as much of their initial outlay as possible, with the striker’s current market value estimated at €13 million by Transfermarkt.
While Southampton currently have another player with a similar playing style in Gustaf Nilsson, who is sidelined through injury, they are keen to avoid missing out on any potential opportunity to strengthen their squad.
The club’s focus is now on securing reinforcements to turn their fortunes around in the second half of the season.
With January fast approaching, Onuachu faces the prospect of returning to Belgium, where he previously enjoyed success with Genk, as he looks to revive his career away from the Premier League.
