Arsenal and Aston Villa are still interested in signing Genk striker Paul Onuachu, who is one of the most sought-after players in Europe.

According to the Corriere dello Sport, Genk attacker Paul Onuachu is drawing attention from a number of teams in England and Europe. Arsenal and Aston Villa are among the clubs that seem to be keeping an eye on the lanky striker’s whereabouts.

Onuachu has been a revelation for Genk since breaking into the first-team squad after his transfer from FC Midtjylland last season. The Nigerian’s goal-scoring statistics have been spectacular year after year, indicating that his progress at the Belgian club has been excellent so far.

Onuachu has scored 39 goals in 45 league matches so far in his career, and he has 18 goals to his name in all competitions so far this season. Naturally, with those kinds of figures, a slew of teams have shown an interest in acquiring the Nigerian striker, who aspires to be as good as Napoli’s Victor Oshimen in the future.

Arsenal and Aston Villa, among other well-known teams, are among those who have shown an interest. These two teams are keen to sign him to a long-term contract in order to secure his services. Based on his Belgian league statistics, he seems to have a lot of potentials, albeit it would be a difficult option to select between the several teams who are interested in signing him.

Arsenal wants him as a striking option upfront

Arsenal is on the lookout for a striker to replace Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, both of whom are expected to leave the club. The Genk star will almost certainly take over for the English attacker, as the Gunners may want to replace the Frenchman with a more high-profile and proven alternative.

For Mikel Arteta, who is still on the lookout for a particular player to fit into his squad rebuilding plans, Onuachu might be a solid choice to consider. In recent weeks, rumours have suggested that Arsenal are interested in Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic, while Andrea Belotti has also been mentioned as a possible transfer target. If Onuachu joins Arsenal, he may not be able to compete for a starting position right away, but he may grow under Arteta into a legitimate striker within a year or two.

Aston Villa are in for him too; who will sign him?

Aston Villa, who have struggled for goals this season, are also interested in signing Onuachu. A bid for him by a Premier League team in the January transfer window may be attempted to entice him away from the major clubs that may be interested in signing him in the summer. A number of times this season, Ollie Watkins and summer acquisition Danny Ings have been linked upfront, with little apparent benefit.

As a result, manager Dean Smith may be inclined to bring in another alternative, maybe as a backup to their current roster. Onuachu may choose not to fixate on the current state of his probable new club and instead concentrate on getting regular playing time and developing his skills. Whether it’s in the Premier League or Europe, Aston Villa might serve as a useful stepping stone for him before he joins a more established club.

Onuachu is not likely to be inexpensive for any side. He is under contract with Genk until 2024, and the Belgian club will expect a decent transfer price in exchange for the 27-year-old. Whether one of these teams makes a bid to sign the Nigerian in the near future would be intriguing to watch.