Genk have identified Aston Villa’s forgotten man Mbwana Samatta as a potential replacement for the Arsenal-mad Paul Onuachu, director Dimitri de Conde told Het Belang Van Limburg.
At this stage, it would be safe to assume Villa’s Belgian experiment is over.
Since the summer of 2019, the Midland giants have signed three players from the Jupiler League.
But, for a variety of reasons, neither Marvelous Nakamba, Wesley Moraes nor Mbwana Samatta – a trio who set the club back a combined £43 million – have failed to live up to expectations in claret and blue.
Samatta spent just six months at the Holte End before being farmed out on loan to Fenerbahce, scoring one Premier League goal.
With the Tanzania international doing little to suggest that Fener should be looking to turn his short-term deal into a permanent transfer, Samatta could be on the move again before long.
A return to Genk appears to be on the cards too, with the club’s technical director admitting that he would consider bringing back a striker who scored 32 goals for the Blue and Whites in 2018/19.
“Onuachu? He’s a top scorer, scoring 30 goals and turning 27,” De Conde said.
“If a club puts an amount on the table that we cannot refuse, we will cooperate in a transfer. At the moment that offer is not available.
“Samatta is certainly on our list (to replace Onuachu).”
Where Onuachu ends up is anyone’s guess.
Speaking to Sporza last week, the 6ft 7ins Nigerian admitted that he is a huge fan of Arsenal and would jump at the chance to follow in the footsteps of legendary compatriot Kanu.
But after Samatta failed to replicate his prolific Jupiler League displays in England, will Arsenal really take a punt on another Belgium-based number nine?
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