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COMMENT: Paul Onuachu is right to be concerned about not getting his big move

'Beyond the Top 5' is a series that will look to beam the light on some of Europe's lesser-fancied leagues, taking in storylines and insightful analysis.
Paul Onuachu (Instagram/Genk)
Paul Onuachu (Instagram/Genk)

Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu expressed his disappointment at not getting a big move in any of the last two transfer windows despite putting up unbelievable numbers for KRC Genk in the Belgium Jupiler Pro League.

"The more the end of the summer mercato approached, the more frustrated I became. I was really mad at the club at one point. I don't think it's normal that when you finish such a season in Belgium, no one comes to get me" Paul Onuachu said in an interview with Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad.

Paul Onuachu was one of the most prolific strikers in the world last season with 33 league goals in 38 appearances last season, followed promptly with 13 in 20 games so far this season despite dealing with injuries.

With 50 goals in 69 appearances across all competitions for Genk since the start of last season, one would expect that Paul Onuachu would be one of the hottest properties in Europe but that has not been the case according to the 27-year-old striker.

"I don't know why it just doesn't happen. Covid, Covid, Covid: I hear that a lot. If a club really wants you, it will get you, right?" Onuachu said in disappointment at his inability to attract a move.

And the Nigerian centre forward is absolutely right, with the kind of form he has been in over the last one year and a half, Onuachu should not still be playing in the Belgian Pro League. 

To further contextualise this, Onuachu is the only one of the top five scorers in the Belgium Jupiler Pro League last season to still be playing for the same club.

He was the top scorer and best player in the league by a landslide in the 2020/21 season but somehow he could not attract the attention that players he outscored were getting.

Thomas Henry was the second-highest scorer in the Belgian league last season, eight goals behind Onuachu and he was signed from OH Leuven by Venezia in the Italian Serie A last summer for just over £5 million.

Henry is also 27 years old, four months younger than Onuachu which makes one wonder why a team in a top-five European league would prefer him rather than the top scorer.

26-year old Ukrainian striker, Roman Yaremchuk finished fourth on the goal chart with 12 goals less than Onuachu but still got signed by Benfica for £17 million from KAA Gent.

It's almost an unwritten rule that the top scorer in every Belgian league season gets signed. Jonathan David scored 18 goals in the 19/20 season and joined Lille for £27 million the following summer.

Ally Samatta scored 20 goals for Genk in the 18/19 season and was snapped up by Aston Villa for just over £10 million shortly after.

Lukasz Teodorcyk scored 20 goals as an Anderlecht loanee in the 2016/17 season, earning himself a permanent contract and a move to Udinese a season after that.

It is a trend that goes as far back as the 90s, none of these previous Belgian Pro League top scorers even came close to Onuachu's insane tally from last season but they all got a bigger move while he remains at Genk.

It really does defy belief and Onuachu's frustration is at the very least justified even if not healthy. The big man himself appears to have lost hope of a dream move despite only recently being awarded the Golden Boot.

"I don't think it will change anything. I mean, I was top scorer last season and nothing happened."

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