Trabzonspor have ended their pursuit of Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu, citing Southampton’s unyielding transfer demands as the reason for abandoning efforts to bring him back to Turkey on a permanent deal, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 29-year-old Super Eagles forward spent the 2023/24 season on loan at the Turkish Super Lig club, where he impressed with 17 goals in 25 appearances. His performances reignited hopes among fans and club officials for a full transfer, especially following Southampton’s relegation to the Championship, which was expected to ease negotiations.

However, according to Turkish outlet Kuzey Ekspres, those hopes have been dashed, as Trabzonspor were once again priced out of a move for the towering striker.

“The British kept their faith! Onuachu, Trabzonspor will not exist,” Kuzey Ekspres noted. “The Burgundy Blue team again became stuck with the problem of cost for the long-standing Nigerian scorer.”

“Although the Burgundy Blues were hoping for this transfer again because of the fall of Southampton, this expectation was wasted. It turned out that Southampton was insistent on the number of bonservices that the British wanted.”

Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan also confirmed the breakdown in negotiations to Kuzey Ekspres, explaining that Southampton have refused to budge on the fee they demanded last summer.

“Onuachu is a player who played in our team before. Southampton still insist on the same figures, we don’t have that agenda,” Doğan told Kuzey Ekspres.

Onuachu is contracted to Southampton until June 2026 and is expected to leave St Mary’s this summer as the club reshapes its squad following their relegation. Despite reported interest from Super Lig rivals Beşiktaş, Southampton’s €10m price tag remains a barrier.

Trabzonspor and Beşiktaş are now likely to shift their focus to other striking options as they plan for the 2025/26 season with manager of the latter, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, believed to be in search of a reliable striker with the anticipated departure of Ciro Immobile.