Man United old boy Ole Gunnar Solskjær targets Super Eagles star as first signing for Besiktas

Ole Gunnar Solskjær, recently appointed as Beşiktaş manager, has reportedly identified Southampton’s Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu as his top transfer target, Soccernet.ng understands.

The former Manchester United boss, eager to rebuild his new team, is keen on adding Onuachu’s towering presence to the Beşiktaş attack.

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According to Turkish outlet Sabah, Beşiktaş are in the market for a centre forward ahead of the January transfer window, with Onuachu emerging as the preferred option after previous attempts to sign Sandro Kulenovic fell through.

Club President Serdal Adalı is believed to back the move, with Solskjær giving his approval to pursue the 30-year-old forward.

Onuachu, who stands at an imposing 2.01 metres, has struggled to make an impact at Southampton since joining from Genk in 2023.

Despite a prolific loan spell at Trabzonspor, where he scored 17 goals and provided 4 assists in 25 matches across all competitions, the Nigerian has found opportunities hard to come by under current Saints manager Ivan Juric.

This season, Onuachu has managed just 362 minutes in 12 matches without registering a goal or assist, leaving him eager to secure regular playing time elsewhere.

During his time in Turkey, Onuachu became a fan favourite, netting 15 goals and contributing 4 assists in 21 matches during the Abdullah Avcı era at Trabzonspor.

His performances, including a Puskás-nominated strike, showed his dominance in aerial duels and his clinical finishing.

For Beşiktaş, the prospect of signing Onuachu on loan is appealing, especially as Southampton reportedly demanded a €10 million transfer fee last summer. With his current situation at the Saints unlikely to improve, Onuachu is said to be open to a return to the Turkish Süper Lig.

Despite having scored the fewest goals among the top seven teams in the Turkish Super Lig, Beşiktaş remain sixth on the table, one point below the European spots.