Southampton are reportedly plotting a summer move for Belgian league superstar Henry Onyekuru in the upcoming summer transfer window as Claude Puel starts making preparations for the next season already.
Although the South Coast side is yet to play six games, which makes it very difficult to determine how they will end the season, it can be safely stated that this campaign hasn’t been as successful as the previous one. Despite starting the season decently, Southampton lost ground in the middle that saw their star forward Charlie Austin getting sidelined for the entire season and Shane Long being immensely inconsistent.
The Saints have scored just 37 goals this season, which is among the lowest in the league. The crux of their concerns is pretty clear and a striker is their number one priority as soon as the summer transfer window opens. Puel did fantastic business in the winter, where the club won the race to sign the much-hyped Serie A forward, Manolo Gabbiadini. The Italian international has since then scored four goals in five league matches.
While Southampton has some really exciting performers in Nathan Redmond, Sofiane Boufal, Dusan Tadic and Jay Rodriguez, deploying them as centre-forward hasn’t fared well for the French manager. The gaffer has often seen shuffling and reshuffling his squad and is in dire need of someone who could play with an equal edge at all positions in the attacking third.
And it is here that Onyekuru comes into the equation. The 19-year-old has gained huge traction across Europe with clubs like Bournemouth and Liverpool have also been keeping tabs, apart from Southampton. He plays for Belgian side Eupen, where he has scored 12 goals and seven assists in 28 league appearances. His goal tally stands at 17 in all competitions.
His prolific displays have earned him a contention for Belgium’s player of the year award and he keeps capitalising on it as he scored yet again in Eupen’s Europa League play-offs last weekend. While Southampton could be an ideal platform for the player considering his bright future, his suitors in the likes of Celtic and Liverpool having Champions League stature next season, will make it very difficult for the Saints.
Other reports also say that the Nigerian-born forward is labelled at £6million by his club and are unable to hold on to him beyond this season. A right-forward by nature, Onyekuru can play as a centre-forward as well as a left-winger, and Southampton can get a real upgrade in him alongside Boufal, Redmond, Austin and Gabbiadini.
