Transfer deadline day: Onuachu set to join Metz on loan from Southampton

Paul Onuachu signed for Southampton from Belgian side KRC Genk in January but has failed to settle down at St Mary's Stadium, scoring no goal in 11 appearances for them last season

Paul Onuachu is set to join Ligue 1 outfit Metz on a season-long loan from Southampton before the end of the summer transfer window, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 29-year-old joined Southampton for £18m from Belgian Pro League side KRC Genk in January.

But has failed to settle down at the St Mary's Stadium, scoring no goal in his 11 League appearances before the club suffered relegation to the Championship at the end of the campaign.

Before his move to Southampton, Onuachu was on a good run of form in the first part of the 2022/23 season, bagging 16 goals from 19 games, and a total of 85 goals in 134 appearances in his four-year stay with the Belgian club.

However, the Nigerian International is set to leave St Mary's Stadium on a year loan to join Ligue 1 side Metz, with the deal expected to be completed in the coming hours before the transfer deadline at 11 pm on Friday(today), as reported by L'Equipe

Metz are looking for offensive reinforcements after losing center-forward Georges Mikautadze to Ajax earlier this week.

The Georgian was responsible for bringing the club back to Ligue 1 and scored two crucial goals this season before his departure to the Eredivisie.

Should the deal be completed, Onuachu will aim to regain his best form to help Metz avoid an immediate return to French Ligue 2.