Genk manager John Van den Brom has not given up hope of keeping reported Arsenal and West Ham United target Paul Onuachu but, speaking to Voetbal Nieuws, he did admit that the striker is ‘likely to leave’.
Should the late-blooming Nigerian complete a dream move to the Premier League before the end of August, Dan Burn will no longer be the tallest player in England’s top flight.
Standing at 6ft 7ins – or 201 metres if you like – Onuachu’s mere presence will strike fear into the heart of defenders up and down the land.
He tends to put his giant frame to good use too, scoring 35 goals last season, seven headers among them.
And it seems the 27-year-old is hoping to cash in on his success, knowing that this may be his best chance yet to join a club in a major European league.
Onuachu’s agent headed to England last week to hold talks with a number of clubs.
It is believed that West Ham, Watford and Arsenal are among the interested parties, according to The Athletic, with David Moyes allegedly instructing his Hammers bosses to make a bid for the £22 million-rated targetman.
Will Paul Onuachu seal a dream move to Arsenal?
“I hope that we will be without players leaving before September 1,” said Van den Brom, the former AZ Alkmaar coach who led Genk to second place in the Jupiler League table.
“It would be very nice if we could keep this core together. It is not certain that (defender Jhon) Lucumi and Onuachu will definitely leave, but for the time being they are still at Genk.
“They are the two players we said are likely to leave, but that doesn’t mean they are leaving.”
It is no secret that Onuachu is an Arsenal supporter at heart, having grown up watching Nigerian legend Kanu strut his stuff on the Highbury turf.
Onuachu’s agent admitted on Monday that his client would welcome a potential switch to North London, though Arsenal are yet to firm up their interest as things stand (Own Goal Nigeria).
Given the choice between West Ham, Watford and Arsenal, however, you don’t need Nostradamus himself to tell you who Onuachu would choose.
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