Everton are seeking to hand Sean Dyche his dream deadline-day transfer…
What’s the latest?
That’s according to French publication Foot Mercato, who claim that the Toffees are said to once again rival Southampton for the signature of Paul Onuachu.
The hulking marksman has starred for Genk once again this season and is seeking a move to the Premier League. Genk would only consider offers of around €2om (£17.6m) for the 6 foot 7 star.
Having already lost out to the Saints for Kamaldeen Sulemana, they will not want a repeat.
Forget Calvert-Lewin
Noting his height alone is enough to understand why Dyche might consider this a dream deal.
Onuachu is a mountain of a man and uses his physicality to great effect. He is strong, aerially dominant and boasts a surprising turn of pace, which has culminated in a fine goalscoring run too.
He remains the top scorer in Belgium’s Pro League with 16 goals in just 19 appearances and seems poised to demolish his 19-goal tally from the campaign prior.
In fact, across his whole career in both Denmark and Belgium, he has been incredibly clinical, boasting a combined 159 goals across 315 games for Midtjylland and Genk.
The Nigerian has been far more proficient than his proposed teammate Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who would see his injury issues become far less problematic for the club if he was to fall behind the 28-year-old in the pecking order.
Whilst he has offered a fine presence up front when fit, like when he notched 16 Premier League goals in the 2020/21 season, he would struggle to compete in every department when compared to the might of Onuachu.
Not solely a battering ram though, he does possess the fleet-footedness that saw him labelled “one of Europe’s most prolific forwards” by journalist Oliver Young-Myles.
This season the forward has recorded a 50% dribble success rate and a respectable 77% pass accuracy, outlining his capability with the ball on the floor as well as the obvious mastery of the sky.
Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin has often struggled to truly perfect his link-up play, and with his long-standing injuries, he never seems to find the consistency to hone it further.
As such, Dyche should instead opt to land a perfect alternative in the titan of a centre forward that is Onuachu.