Paul Onuachu “lacks focus” and was “not ready to play” for Genk this weekend after West Ham United made an approach for the giant striker, manager John van den Brom has told Eleven Sports, via ScoreNigeria.
If you’re suffering from a nasty case of déjà vu after reading our opening paragraph, there’s good reason.
Earlier today we reported Martin Braithwaite had been left out of Barcelona’s 3-0 friendly victory over Stuttgart, Ronald Koeman fearing an ill-timed injury could wreck the striker’s £13 million move to the London Stadium.
Onuachu, too, was conspicuous by his absence at the weekend, left out entirely as Genk suffered a shock 4-3 defeat to Jupiler League rivals KV Oostende.
Two strikers, two strikingly similar situations.
Could West Ham sign Martin Braithwaite, Paul Onuachu – or both?
West Ham are understood to have offered about £15 million for the 6ft 7in Nigeria international, while Watford and Arsenal have also been linked with a man who has made no secret of his desire to play for the Gunners one day in homage to his childhood hero Kanu.
“Paul is a little less comfortable in his own skin,” former AZ Alkmaar coach Van den Brom told reporters when asked about Onuachu’s omission.
“I haven’t seen him smile this week, so you know something’s not right.
“He agreed with me he lacks focus and he was not ready to play. But that could be different on Tuesday (when Genk face Shakhtar Donetsk in a Champions League qualifier).”
You don’t need a PHD in sports psychology to realise why Onuachu may be feeling a little lost right now.
His future remains uncertain with just a month of the transfer window remaining. Genk are refusing to budge on a £25 million price tag West Ham are trying to reduce (Own Goal Nigeria).
Onuachu scored 35 goals last season – a career-best tally – as Genk won the Belgian cup for the first time in eight years.
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