Aston Villa are looking to replenish the squad following the arrival of Unai Emery from Villarreal as head coach, with moves expected to be made across a multitude of departments.
What’s the word?
An early Christmas present might just have landed on Emery’s porch, with KRC Genk chief Dimitri de Conde stating that the club may reluctantly be forced to sell Paul Onuachu should a reasonable offer arrive.
Onuachu, 28-years-old, has been an imperial figure in the Belgium Jupiler Pro League, scoring 70 goals and six in 98 appearances.
“Onuachu’s situation remains something special. At his age you never know what will happen”, the Genk chief told Het Laatste Nieuws (via voetball24).
Earlier this season, Jeunes Footeux (via Sport Witness) reported that Villa have been considering a move for the striker for several months, with January viewed as the optimum time to strike and present Genk with an offer they cannot refuse.
Next Cavani
Emery arrived at Villa Park with the weight of expectation on his shoulders, with a demanding fanbase galvanised at the prospect of a manager with such illustrious pedigree conducting the show from the technical area.
As such, the requirement to rejuvenate the floundering fortunes at the club will be at the forefront of the tasks for the 51-year-old Spaniard, with Villa currently sitting 12th in the Premier League after 15 matches played, albeit with three victories from the past four outings.
And with only 16 goals scored in this period, there is indeed a calling for fresh offensive vigour to catapult this proud football club back into prominence, and perhaps a challenge for European contention.
By signing Onuachu, Emery could hold the key to turning the tide and unleashing tumultuous might on the rest of the league, with the Nigerian powerhouse bearing similarity to the Villa manager’s former sensation; Edinson Cavani.
Under Emery, Cavani scored a ridiculous 89 goals in just 98 appearances, assisting a further 20, which remains the highest tally and most prolific rate of any talisman to star under his wing.
With both Cavani and Onuachu homing their clinical prowess through a towering physique and aerial dominance, Emery would likely have the recipe in his pocket to stir up a devastating concoction, with Onuachu netting five of his 13 strikes in the Pro League this term through headed efforts.
In fact, the 16-cap ace has scored 14 goals from 15 outings this season, as per Transfermarkt, plundering 23 goals from 43 appearances the preceding campaign.
Hailed as “generational” by one data analyst, Onuachu can channel his midas touch in front of goal and transfer his knack for finding the net to the Premier League, where he can flourish under Emery’s tutelage.
With the report continuing to state that Onuachu is regarded at (€25m) £21.5m by Genk, Villa will have to weigh up their options and decide on whether his signature would prove most fruitful, but with a unique skill set and a dominating presence in the box, he would offer the Claret and Blue a fresh dimension to their forward drive, one that could prove the difference in the fight for a spot higher up the table.