Liverpool are reportedly ready to rival Sevilla and RB Leipzig in pursuit of Genk’s rising sensation Paul Onuachu this summer.
According to an exclusive report from Fichajes, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in the services of Paul Onuachu. The KRC Genk forward is tipped for a big-money move to a top club in the summer following a highly successful 2020/21 campaign in the Belgian top flight.
A €6 million arrival from Midtjylland in 2019, Onuachu has found the back of the net a whopping 35 times this season, making him one of the best performing centre forwards across Europe, with his contributions in front of goal helping Genk finish in the top four of the Jupiler Pro League.
Onuachu’s performances have not gone unnoticed among the big clubs either, with Liverpool reportedly keen on attaining his services ahead of the upcoming 2021/22 campaign. It appears the Nigerian international has been identified as a potential replacement for Divock Origi, who is widely expected to leave Anfield this summer.
The Reds, however, could face stiff competition from other top clubs across Europe. Arsenal, in particular, were credited with an interest in the Genk forward earlier this year while the report suggests that Sevilla are, in fact, the front-runners ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Onuachu.
The 26-year-old striker has emerged as Julen Lopetegui’s desired replacement for the attacking duo of Youssef En-Nesyri and Luuk de Jong, both of whom are likely to depart Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in the summer transfer window.
For Liverpool, the addition of Onuachu should add some much-needed depth in the goalscoring department for Jurgen Klopp. The German tactician has had a difficult time finding goals, with Mohamed Salah being the only real spark in an otherwise dire campaign.
Roberto Firmino, in particular, has not been able to offer that goalscoring threat going forward, so someone like Paul Onuachu could certainly offer variety in the Liverpool attack. The Reds, though, are indeed exploring other options as well, and more established ones, in fact, having recently been linked with a shock move for Antoine Griezmann.
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However, it remains doubtful whether the Merseyside giants will be able to afford star players without offloading one of theirs. It could ultimately force Liverpool to scour through cost-effective alternatives like Onuachu.
Although it remains unknown as to how much the Nigerian forward could exactly cost this summer, he could certainly be a bargain given the potential he has shown in the Belgian league this season. It, therefore, remains to be seen if Liverpool can leapfrog Sevilla in the race to sign the 26-year-old forward this summer.
