Racing Genk of Belgium striker, Cyriel Dessers has already starting reaping from transfer distractions that are bedeviling his compatriot and clubmate, Paul Ebere Onuachu, as coach of the side, John van den Brom is singing praises for the Belgium-born attacker, megasportsarena.com reports.
Dessers is now being projected for a starting spot in Genk’s UEFA Champions League qualifier his Tuesday, after Van den Brom admitted he might not have Onuachu available for the encounter, following his omission from his side’s 4-3 loss to KV Oostende on Friday night.
Onuachu’s absence came amid growing speculation that he is on the brink of a huge summer transfer and Dessers got Van den Brom’s nod to lead the attack, during which the former Heracles Almelo of Holland top scorer provided the assist for Genk’s second goal scored by Theo Bongonda.
While Onuachu has been a shadow of himself since the start of the new campaign, firing blanks against Club Brugge in the Super Cup and Standard Liege in the Belgian Jupiler league opener, Dessers has shown lots of gusto, such that he could again be thrown into the arrow head’s spot for Tuesday’s continental clash with Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in UCL’s third qualifying round.
On the other hand, the signs are ominous for Onuachu, who excelled in a banner season that saw him score 37 goals for club and country, while carting home three personal awards from the Belgian league, but his suitors have been put off by Genk’s €30m asking price.
A report by Belgian news outlet, Het Laatste Nieuws added that Genk will not step down on their asking price for Onuachu, who fired 35 goals in 41 games last season, as they hope to cash in on his burst of form by asking for a record transfer fee on the giant striker.
The stalemate is now affecting Onuachu, as he now appears disillusioned and frustrated, such that Van den Brom went on to reveal that the tall lad had to be excused from Friday’s game after he declared himself not ready to play, because he was not in the right frame of mind.
Van den Brom told Het Nieuwsblad: “I’ve been keeping an eye on Paul this week and talking to him a lot. You should always be honest with each other. I thought he wasn’t ready and he agreed. You are dealing with a team and we all need focus.
“I had a feeling that wasn’t the case with him. Hopefully we can get him ready to play by Tuesday. We shouldn’t make a drama out of this either. It is handy that with Cyriel I have another very good option.”
