Former Stoke City manager, Johan Boskamp, has advised KRC Genk to do everything within their power to ensure they resign Super Eagles striker, Paul Onuachu.
Things have not gone well for the Belgians since allowing their influential striker to leave the club on the winter transfer window deadline to join then Premier League side Southampton for £18m plus add-ons.
Genk did not only end up losing the Belgian Jupiler League last season, but the club’s attack also looked extremely blunt as they failed to go past Swiss side Sevette in the UEFA Champions League second-round qualifying phase, something Boskamp insists would never have happened if the Nigerian was still at the club.
Things have not been rosy for Onuachu at Southampton as well. The Nigeria international failed to score or assist a goal last term as the Saints got relegated to the championship.
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There have been reports that the Belgians and the Nigerian have discussed the possibilities of a return to the Jupiler League on loan but it is unsure if that will be a route Southampton will be willing to take however, Boskamp has urged Genk to do everything possible to get him back as he is the key to their good fortunes.
“After that game (against Sevette) I spent another fifteen minutes staring at my screen. I couldn’t believe how they missed it,” says Johan Boskamp at Het Belang van Limburg. “I still don’t get it.”
“What an unbelievable bummer for the Genk fans and Belgian football. If I were them, I would do anything now to bring Paul Onuachu back. His departure already cost them the title last season and the Champions League. In England, he doesn’t hit a marble.
“Then put that boy out of his misery and just get him back. It doesn’t need an adjustment period and they know perfectly how to use it. Their game was completely tailored to him.”
Aside from the cost paid by the Saints to get Onuachu to England, the increase in his wages may also be a blocker to his return.
Onuachu scored 85 goals and provided 10 assists in 134 games for Genk in all competitions.
