Paul Onuachu’s move to Southampton in the January transfer was an ‘inevitable disaster’ that may end up costing Genk the league title.
That’s according to journalist Ludo Vandewalle in Het Nieuwsblad, who says the Belgian club may end up regret sanctioning the striker’s move to Southampton ‘for the sake of money’.
He explains that Genk picked up 55 out of 60 points with Onuachu in their side this season but without the ‘treacherous’ Nigerian they have now only managed nine in 21.
The obvious conclusion from those numbers is that the departure could cost the Limburgers the title, and thus the transfer needs to be questioned.
That it was done simply ‘for the sake of money’ is obvious but debatable given that they are a ‘healthy club’ with an equity of €68m.
There is a small nuance that it is the ‘fate’ of every Belgian club to let their top players go at some point given the money available in Europe and the status of their league.
Onuachu had already player for ‘a year and a half longer’ than he should have at Genk as it was having been denied a transfer regularly with the promise that he could go if a Premier League side came calling with a suitable offer. Southampton finally did that with their €18m bid in January.
There was also the ‘human aspect’ of the club keeping their promise, with potential problems down the line with Onuachu and other players if the transfer hadn’t been granted.
In that sense the deal was ‘unavoidable’ but that ‘makes it all worse’ because Onuachu has ended up on the bench at Southampton, managing just six minutes in the last two games.
He’s yet to score for his new club doesn’t appear to be a part of Ruben Selles’ plans moving forwards as they fight to avoid relegation this season.
Things for him, and Genk, could have been very different this season and as far as Vandewalle is concerned the whole affair is a ‘disaster’ for both.
