Following an impressive 2-1 victory at Elland Road over Leeds United, Southampton will now prepare to face West Bromwich Albion next Sunday but there are already rumblings about the futures of a number of key stars.
Prior to the first ball being kicked back in August, the Saints would have been hoping to make a push for the automatic promotion spots. However, four consecutive defeats before their trip to West Yorkshire put the club firmly out of the running for a top-two finish.
Leeds are the highest-ranked team in the play-offs given Daniel Farke’s side finished on 90 points and in third place but Southampton will feel confident of getting past the Whites should they reach the final at Wembley Stadium in three weeks’ time.
Should the Saints fail to earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, the club may be put in a sticky financial situation. Parachute payments are greatly reduced in the second campaign following relegation, which means the club will have to sell players to offset this loss.
One man that Southampton could sell during the summer transfer window is Paul Onuachu. According to a report from Turkish outlet Sabah, the Nigerian striker has started getting involved in discussions between Trabzonspor and his parent club as he is keen to remain in Turkey next season.
It was revealed in recent weeks that the Saints have slapped a £10 million price tag on the centre-forward and that they are unwilling to budge on this valuation which has struck doubt over whether or not a deal will come to fruition.
Furthermore, it was reported that Trabzonspor registered interest in Hoffenheim frontman and former Manchester United star Wout Weghorst as an alternative for Onuacha after conceding defeat in their chase of a permanent deal.
Writer’s View
Having joined Southampton in January 2023 for £18.6 million, Onuachu has been a major disappointment at the St. Mary’s Stadium, failing to score a single goal as the club were relegated from the Premier League for the first time in 11 years last season.
However, since moving to Trabzonspor on loan back in August, the Nigeria international has put up some impressive numbers, bagging 12 goals and recording four assists in 22 appearances. It’s not surprising that he is keen to remain in Turkey but whether the Saints are willing to budge on their £10 million asking price is another story.
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