Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor are reportedly intensifying their efforts to sign Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu this summer, as Southampton are now willing to significantly reduce their valuation of the player.
Trabzonspor have maintained an interest in Onuachu since his highly successful loan spell at the club last season.
During that stint, the Super Eagles forward impressed considerably, contributing an impressive 17 goals and four assists in just 25 appearances.
However, the Turkish side was unable to secure a permanent transfer last year, as they failed to meet Southampton’s initial asking price of €15 million. Trabzonspor’s attempts to negotiate a lower fee were unsuccessful at the time.
Recently, Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan publicly confirmed that the club had once again inquired about Onuachu’s availability, but the price remained too high for their budget.
However, a breakthrough now appears imminent. According to reports from Fanatik, Southampton have made the decision to lower their valuation of Onuachu.
This shift in stance is attributed to the Saints’ recent relegation from the English Premier League, coupled with Onuachu’s less impactful performances this season compared to his prolific loan spell.
Furthermore, Onuachu has just one year remaining on his current contract with Southampton.
This contractual situation significantly weakens the English club’s negotiating position, as they face the prospect of losing the striker for free next summer if they do not facilitate a transfer in the upcoming window.
Consequently, it is anticipated that Southampton could now set their asking price for the former FC Midtjylland forward in the range of €7-€8 million, a figure that would make a move to Trabzonspor considerably more feasible.
The coming weeks are expected to see renewed and possibly successful negotiations between Trabzonspor and Southampton as the Turkish club aims to bring the Super Eagles striker back to the Super Lig on a permanent basis.
