Genk Lining Up Swap Deal With Southampton
Monday, 21st Aug 2023 14:19

Tall Paul Onauchu was not a success at Saints last season and his one competitive outing this season, did not lead anyone present at Gillingham to suggest that he might yet be an asset in the Championship, but there does seem to be transfer work afoot to try and make the story have a happier ending.

The problem Southampton have with Tall Paul Onauchu is that they will not find anyone willing to stump up the hard cash to buy him outright, at least not anywhere near the £18 million that we paid.

But a transfer fee is the least of our problems, the fact is that not many sides would be willing to get anywhere near his wages, certainly not his old club Genk, but it they who are plotting on him returning to Belgium for the rest of the 2023/24 season.

getfootballnewsbene.com are quoting journalist Sacha Tavolieri as claiming that Southampton & Genk are in talks for an audacious swap deal.

Onauchu is keen on a return to Genk, but they do not have the readies to pay on the nose for him or even get anywhere near the money he is on at St Mary's, so they are proposing a swap deal that will see Joseph Paintstil go to England. The Ghanaian winger had his best season for Genk last season, scoring 17 goals and providing 11 assists.

So who is Joseph Paintstil you may ask ?

As mentioned earlier he is a Ghanian winger and he is 25 years old, he has been at the Belgium club since 2018 when he was signed from Ghanian club Tema Youth, although he had been on loan at Hungarian club Ferencváros the previous season, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances in the Hungarian League

At Genk although a regular in the team his first 2 seasons were pretty average in 2020/21 he went out on loan to Turkey where he joined MKE Ankaragücü, this saw success with 11 goals in 33 matches and he returned to Genk the next season and was a regular in the Genk side.

Last season though he blossomed and in 36 Jupilo League games he scored 17 times plus 11 assists.

This season he has started slowly in the League and although he hasn't scored he does have 2 assists.

Genk though are struggling up front and need a striker, hence the talks with Southampton, they see that a swap deal would be advantageous to both parties, Genk will get Tall Paul back on loan to solve their striking problems and we will have a winger in return.

That could be attractive to Saints should the price that Saints are quoting is met, that is said to be £25 million as they attempt to ward off suitors, but if somewhere north of £20 million is put on the table, then with a potential loan replacement already lined up, then they might just lower the price a little.

Photo: Action Images

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underweststand added 14:35 - Aug 21

Obviously a situation that needs to be resolved PDQ. However successful Onuachu might have been at Genk it hasn't come anywhere near being repeated with Saints.
Seems like a return to square one would be a win-win situation and if we get some sort of a deal - with a part-ex player with better skills - and an agreement on fees and salaries... it would be worth taking a hit. .for a few million to get this nightmare sorted before Sept.1

Monksway added 14:56 - Aug 21 I'm a bit confused. Is the winger £20 million plus tall Paul for a year on loan? Doesn't sound like he is worth £20 million especially after they took us for £18 million for Onuachu. Also Onuachu's value won't increase after a loan at Genk unlike Sulimana, surely better to take the financial hit now and offload him permanently.
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