Paul Onuachu saga to end ‘soon’ as president delivers update on Southampton sale

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Those who have followed the strange tale of Southampton striker Paul Onuachu will know that this is not the first time Trabzonspor president Ertugrol Dogan has spoken out about negotiations with the £18 million Nigeria international.

And, two and a half years after Southampton signed the giant centre-forward from KRC Genk, it is unlikely to be the last time either.

Paul Onuachu spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Trabzonspor, scoring 17 times in 25 games. One of those, by the way, being a Puskas-nominated scorpion kick that would make Olivier Giroud proud.

No wonder they wanted him to stay.

The aforementioned Dogan would confirm, however, that Southampton’s reluctance to budge on what was then a £12.5 million asking price scuppered Onuachu’s hopes of a permanent move to the Turkish Super Lig outfit. Trabzonspor were offering only £5 million, plus bonuses, after all.

But a year later, as Onuachu enters the final 12 months on his contract, one suspects the Saints may be slightly more willing to reach common ground this time around.

Southampton have signed only Joshua Quarshie from Hoffenheim so far this summer. The Saints are keen to bring in Lucas Cepeda from Colo-Colo, however, alongside the likes of Besfort Zeneli and Manchester City youngster Juma Bah.

So selling Onuachu, while removing his hefty wages from the club’s budget, would go a long way to enhancing Will Still’s spending power.

Trabzonspor hope to sign Southampton striker Paul Onuachu ‘soon’

Speaking to Takvim, president Ertogrul Dogan both confirmed that Onuachu is still a Trabzonspor target while also ruling out a switch to the banks of the Black Sea for former Southampton loanee Albert Gronbaek.

“[Onuachu] is on our agenda. We’re discussing it,” Dogan explains. “Hopefully, we will complete [his signing] soon.

“Albert Groanbek is not [a target and neither is Tottenham Hotspur misfit] Timo Werner is not.”

Interestingly, Dogan ruled out a move to Trabzonspor for another one-time Southampton man – Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car – but admitted that Axel Tuanzebe is someone who could join their ranks following Ipswich Town’s relegation.

Danish midfielder Gronbaek started only two Premier League games during his forgettable, injury-interrupted loan spell from Stade Rennes in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Southampton had an option to sign Gronbaek permanently for just shy of £13 million. This, unsurprisingly, is an option they will not take up. The former Bodo/Glimt ace is now expected to be re-integrated into the Rennes squad during pre-season.

Johannes Spors explains Southampton’s transfer plans under Will Still

Southampton have bid farewell to Kyle Walker-Peters as well, alongside veteran playmaker Adam Lallana and back-up goalkeeper Joe Lumley. Youngster Samuel Amo-Ameyaw joined ambitious Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg for a fee of around £6 million, meanwhile, after helping Liam Rosenior’s side secure Europa Conference League qualification during a temporary stay in Alsace.

As emphasised by the arrival of Germany Under-21 ace Quarshie, plus the reported interest in fellow youngsters Cepeda, Bah and Zeneli, Southampton are once again targeting rising stars with considerable potential.

“I want young squads with the right balance,” Southampton’s sporting director Johannes Spors told the  Daily Echo. “Players who have arrived young are now really experienced. In general, I don’t make the differentiation between young and old so much.

“I’m 100 per cent aware of leadership, managing dressing rooms, needing the right amount of peak-age players who are able to perform on the level where you are.

“It’s very important, but talent is also very important for several reasons. We need this energy of growth, of development, players who fight for their next step.

“We have to set the environment so they can grow. And if you don’t have enough players that want to grow, the best environment doesn’t help.”