Belgian football expert Dennie van Laar, has urged Dutch giants Ajax to consider signing Nigeria international Paul Onuachu as a replacement for Sebastian Haller, but warned that the striker won’t come cheap.
Belgian club, KRC Genk, are prepared to sell Onuachu ahead of the new season, despite being the club’s top scorer for two seasons, but will only let the 28-year-old leave for a fee in the region of €18m.
The Jews, as Ajax are fondly called, are in the market for a centre forward, following the sale of last season top scorer Haller to Borussia Dortmund for €31m, with the club’s technical manager Gerry Hamstra and trainer Alfred Schreuder making it clear they are going to strengthen the squad.
Following the sale of the Ivory Coast international, the 2021/22 Eredivisie champions are left with Brian Brobbey as the only out-and-out striker in the first team.
Ajax boast several attacking options, with Dusan Tadic, Steven Bergwijn and Mohammed Kudus able to play in the false nine role, but van Laar insisted that none of the forwards could fill the void left by Haller, thus suggesting Onuachu to the club.
In the latest edition of his Done Deal podcast, the football analyst, while profiling several quality players whom he believed would help improve the Ajax squad ahead of next season, advised the club to consider the Nigerian.
Van Laar said, “In Belgium, they have Paul Onuachu, last year’s top scorer at Genk.
“He’s a class act, which puts him there (on Ajax shortlist) every single time. He’s also tall. But he wouldn’t be cheap.”
Onuachu is currently recovering from an injury that has kept him out of preseason and Genk’s first match of the 2022/23 league campaign.
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