Southampton coach Martin Russell has disclosed that there was a lack of serious interest from other clubs in signing Niger Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu during the last summer transfer window.
The 30-year-old, who joined Southampton from Genk, had previously enjoyed a prolific spell in Belgium, netting 85 goals and providing ten assists in 135 matches, contributing to Genk’s Belgian Cup victory in 2021.
However, Onuachu has struggled to find his footing in England since his arrival in January 2023.
Limited playing time led to a loan at Trabzonspor, where he excelled with 17 goals and four assists in 25 appearances.
Despite speculation about Trabzonspor pursuing him last summer, no concrete offers materialized, leaving him at Southampton.
“Yes, I think I want him (Onuachu) to stay. If he was going to go, I think it would have been in the summer for the club to reinvest the money,” Martin told Daily Echo.
“At the time, it was a few clubs interested but none of them were anywhere near serious enough for us to consider, and I think Paul was just caught in limbo for a bit.
“I think he thought he was going to leave and it hadn’t quite worked out, last summer he was here for probably five or six weeks before he was going.
“The whole time it was planned he was going to go because he cost a lot of money and he wanted a challenge at the top level if he could but he was brilliant.”
This season, Onuachu has only made six Premier League appearances but recently started against Liverpool.
