Genk are hiking up their asking price for striker Mbwana Samatta.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Genk have increased their asking price for striker Mbwana Samatta to €16million (£15million) after Premier League teams looked elsewhere.
Samatta, 26, had become a star in DR Congo with TP Mazembe, smashing 83 goals in 136 games to earn his big move to Europe with Genk in 2016.
The Tanzanian international has been even more impressive in Belgium, and he racked up 32 goals in all competitions last season as Genk won the Belgian title.
Unsurprisingly, Samatta received major interest, and HLN claim that Aston Villa were one of the clubs Samatta was offered to – presumably by his agent – along with Burnley, Leicester City and Watford.
They declined to bid at that time, but after scoring four goals in four games already this season, it’s claimed that Genk are now demanding £15million for Samatta.
The Sun claimed over the summer that Samatta was valued at £12million, but with the transfer deadline closing in, Genk are demanding even more money – and a move to Russia or Turkey seems unlikely.
If Samatta keeps scoring – and there’s no indication of him slowing down – then Genk will surely keep that price tag moving forward or even keep increasing it to match his remarkable rise.
Villa may well need another striker in January, and Samatta should be one player on the radar given his outstanding goal record, and they’ll even see him in Champions League action.
Yet having signed Wesley from Belgian football too, fans may worry about dipping into that market again, especially as Wesley himself doesn’t look too clinical as things stand.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
