NEGOTIATIONS over the transfer of Paul Onuachu are ongoing but Saints and Trabzonspor have not reached agreement yet, despite reports.
Media in Turkey have reported that the two clubs have agreed on a deal worth a total of €5million (£4.2m) but this is thought to be wide of the mark.
Onuachu, 31, has been pursued by the Turkish club for 12 months since he scored 17 goals in 23 matches on loan there in the 2023/24 season.
Saints rejected bids Trabzonspor worth £5m last summer but the Nigerian international is set to enter the final year of his contract at St Mary's.
As set out by Trabzonspor boss Faith Tekke last month, the Super Big outfit have returned to the negotiation table to try and sign Onuachu.
Turkish reports suggesting Trabzonspor and Saints have reached an agreement for Paul Onuachu at €5million are not true. They are interested and negotiations are ongoing but Saints don't want to sell at that price and anticipate talks could rumble on for a while again.#SaintsFC
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) June 8, 2025
However, Saints are reluctant to sell at the price currently discussed and anticipate that talks could rumble on into the summer months again.
Onuachu signed for Saints in a deal worth around £15million in January 2023 but only established himself as a regular player under Ivan Juric.
He battled a persistent ankle injury last campaign and his managers had admitted he struggles to play week-in week-out at his top level.
As a result, Saints could cash in ahead of a physically taxing Championship season and he retains interest from clubs due to his prowess in front of goal.
He has scored 83 goals in league competition since the start of the 2020/21 season, and was Southampton's 2024/25 top scorer with four league goals.
Onuachu made 25 Premier League appearances last campaign, in addition to three appearances in the club's domestic cup competitions.
Should Saints sell Paul Onuachu this summer?
Paul Onuachu left on loan last time Saints were in the Championship (Image: PA)
At 31 years old and with just one year left on his contract, there is no doubt that Onuachu will be leaving Saints by the end of next season.
However, the decision the club have to make is whether they think they can improve the squad for the upcoming Championship campaign with his fee.
If they receive less than £5m, what can they really do? Onuachu scored a goal every 250 minutes in the Premier League, which is not bad.
At six-foot seven-inches tall, he would be useful player in Will Still's system, which places high priority on crosses into the box and set-pieces.
In addition to that, due to a relegation reduction clause in his contract, as is standard for many players, his Championship wages are not outrageous.
The flip side is that Onuachu struggles to remain fully fit and managers have commented that he needs to be 100 per cent to be at his best.
The Championship schedule is a rigorous one and there is some debate over how much he could contribute over the course of a full season.
Saints will be open to a sale at the right price and that is the right call, but if the only offers are peanuts, could his contributions be worth more?
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