‘Trabzonspor won’t pay €15m for Onuachu’

Nigeria international Paul Onuachu may not get his wish of playing for Turkish giants Trabzonspor after the club president, Ertuğrul Doğan, said the club would not meet Southampton’s  €15m asking price for the striker, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Onuachu spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Trabzonspor, delivering impressive performances enough to convince the club’s hierarchy to sign him on a permanent deal, while the player was also keen on staying in Turkey. The wish may not come to fruition after Doğan revealed that the club won’t pay the amount requested by the Premier League side.

“Onuachu was a player who played for us on loan last season. His club insistently demands around €15m. We offered €8m with bonuses,” Doğan was quoted saying by Turkish outlet Tivibu Spor.

“Trabzonspor cannot give €15m to a football player right now. A player is 20-22 years old; it is our coach’s request, and then it will be considered.

“However, Trabzonspor cannot make such an offer to a 30-year-old player. The last 2-3 days. The situation is clear. We will wait and see.”

Despite being under contract with Southampton until June 2026, Onuachu’s future remains uncertain. The Saints returned to the Premier League last season and are keen to offload several players loaned out during their Championship campaign.

Onuachu made a significant impact during his loan spell at Trabzonspor last season, scoring 17 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions.His impressive performances in Turkey have also attracted interest from other Turkish clubs, including Besiktas, Fenerbahce, and Southampton’s sister club, Goztepe. Despite this, Trabzonspor appear to be in pole position to secure his signature.

Trabzonspor’s pursuit of Onuachu underscores their determination to bolster their attacking options for the upcoming season. However, they remain cautious in their approach, with Doğan emphasising the existence of alternative targets should negotiations with Southampton fall through.

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