Belgian side Genk have found their ‘title in jeopardy’ after allowing Paul Onuachu to join Southampton in the January transfer window.
That’s according to Voetbal Nieuws, who cover the club today and how selling Onuachu to the Saints has become something of a ‘taboo’ subject for them.
He moved to Saints in an €18m deal on deadline day of the January transfer window, with the Premier League side spending big to improve their forward line and aid their relegation battle.
Onuachu arrived at St Mary’s with an impressive tally this season, having managed 16 goals In 19 games in the Jupiler Pro League.
Those goals have been sorely missed since his departure, with Genk yet to work out how to make up for the ‘loss’ of their star man.
That has been put down to some ‘title stress’ but it is not solely that and the ‘loss of Paul Onuachu’ is believed to be a bigger problem. However, that subject has become something of a ‘taboo’ at the club.
According to the website the striker was ‘already considered indispensable’ before his departure but they ‘remained hopeful’ they could survive without. That’s not been the case and his move to Southampton has only shown ‘how heavily’ that Genk were ‘dependent on him’.
That was brought up by various journalist and analysts before his move to Southampton but the Belgian club ‘try to talk as little as possible’ about the ‘enormous sporting loss’ they’ve suffered.
Indeed, bringing it up is not considered a smart move, with everyone at the club ‘very sensitive’ about the subject including manager Wouter Vrancken.
He’s already reacted very angrily to questions on the matter but the reality is the players he has ‘can’t fill Onuachu’s shoes right now’ and the decision to let him join Southampton is one they deeply regret.
