Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan has indicated that Paul Onuachu could extend his stay at the Turkish Süper Lig club beyond his current loan deal.
The towering 30-year-old striker joined Trabzonspor on a season-long loan from Southampton after the English club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Paul Onuachu, who stands at an imposing 2.01 meters, had a standout season with Trabzonspor, scoring 17 goals and providing four assists in 25 appearances. His performance has earned him a place in Finidi George’s Super Eagles squad, notably starting over Victor Boniface in a recent 1-1 draw against South Africa.
Doğan confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with Southampton to make Onuachu’s move permanent. “Paul Onuachu expressed his desire to remain with us. He conveyed this to both our management and his parent club. We want to secure his services, and discussions are active. We’re also exploring other forward options, possibly even adding two players. The transfer process will take some time,” Doğan said, according to Turkish outlet 61saat.
Despite his success in Turkey, Southampton appears willing to offload Onuachu at a reduced price, significantly lower than the £18 million they paid to acquire him from Genk in January 2023. Reports from GivemeSport suggest that the Saints are open to offers around half of that amount this summer, preferring a permanent transfer to another loan.
Onuachu’s tenure at Southampton was brief and unproductive, as he failed to score in 12 appearances. The uncertainty now lies in whether a deal can be struck that satisfies both clubs, allowing Onuachu to continue his career in Turkey or elsewhere.
