One of Nigeria’s most prolific strikers in Europe will be on the move when the transfer window opens in the coming weeks
KRC Genk assistant coach Glen Riddersholm is convinced that Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu will not be at the club by the time next season kicks off in August.
Onuachu was ripe for a move abroad last year after a record-breaking campaign that saw him smash 35 goals in all competitions for the Belgian side.
But despite being linked with a couple of English Premier League clubs as well as some French and Italian sides, Onuachu eventually remained with the Smurfs. No club was particularly keen on matching Genk’s €25 million estimation of the striker’s value.
Onuachu, however, shrugged off the disappointment of his failed transfer to yet again post impressive stats this term.
The 27-year-old has found the back of the net 21 times, with 19 of those goals coming in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.
His current market value has dropped from the October high of €22 million to €17 million, and Genk could be persuaded to lower their asking price for the Super Eagles striker.
The club has hinted it will be open to negotiations for Onuachu, with coach Riddersholm maintaining that the former FC Midtjylland ace can play a significant role if he moves to any top club.
“Yes, I’m absolutely convinced he is. I’m not saying he can play solid for those clubs, but he can play a significant role,” Riddersholm told bold.dk when asked if Onuachu was ready for a big transfer to Liverpool or Atletico Madrid.
“For some of the clubs, he wants to be a squad player, where he has to have a few minutes, because they play many matches in one season. The question is also whether he wants to be a solid starter every round or whether he has to take new steps. I cannot answer that.
“But he has some eye-catching core competencies, which means that it does not surprise me that there are such big clubs in play. Being able to change matches is super important, and Paul has some obvious qualities that are nice for a coach to have at his disposal.”
Riddersholm believes any club taking Onuachu will get a complete footballer who has been nurtured in Denmark and Belgium.
The Danish football manager also stated that Onuachu would undoubtedly leave the club before next season.
“He (Onuachu) won the Golden Boot, and it is very apt for what he has achieved. He has developed since I worked with him in FC Midtjylland,” the 49-year-old continued.
“He’s a much more accomplished footballer, and he’s ready to be shot now, and I really hope he succeeds.
“There were various things that made him not smoke in the summer transfer window, including the uncertain financial situation due to Corona, and then he is not completely cheap either.
“I really hope he succeeds in the upcoming transfer window, and until then I just have to say that he is hugely ambitious and he tries every day to help his club. He has a huge mentality.
“He has received a good education from Denmark, and I am pleased that he is also a cultural carrier down here. It’s cool that he’s just proving himself, but he’s ready to move on, and he’s going to leave, too,” the Esbjerg-born manager concluded.
