Onuachu set to make Nigerian history at Trabzonspor as Fenerbahçe eye Super Eagles star

Nigeria international Paul Onuachu is on the verge of writing his name into Trabzonspor history ahead of their final Turkish Süper Lig match against Gençlerbirliği this weekend, Afrik-Foot reports.

The towering Super Eagles striker heads into the last game of the season leading the race for the Turkish top scorer award with 22 league goals. If he finishes on top after the final round of matches, Onuachu will become the first Nigerian player ever to win the Süper Lig Golden Boot while playing for Trabzonspor.

It would also place him among some of the biggest legends in the club’s history. Only five Trabzonspor players have previously finished a season as the league’s top scorer. Those names include Necmi Perekli, Hami Mandıralı, Fatih Tekke (current Trabzonspor manager), Burak Yılmaz and Alexander Sörloth.

Onuachu now has the chance to become the sixth member of that exclusive group.

The former Genk forward has been one of the standout performers in Turkey this season despite missing games through injury in recent weeks. His closest challenger is Eldor Shomurodov of İstanbul Başakşehir, who sits just one goal behind on 21. Anderson Talisca of Fenerbahçe had also been in the race with 19 goals before an injury ended his season.

Trabzonspor supporters are expected to pack the stadium for the decisive clash against Gençlerbirliği, hoping both for victory and for Onuachu to complete a historic campaign in front of the Black Sea club’s fans.

Several Nigerians have worn the Trabzonspor shirt over the years, including John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi, Anthony Nwakaeme and Isaac Promise. Nwakaeme remains the club’s highest-scoring Nigerian with 50 goals in 192 appearances, but even he never finished as the league’s top scorer. Onuachu is now just one match away from achieving that milestone.

Fenerbahçe launch major move for Onuachu

While Onuachu prepares for a potentially historic evening in Trabzon, interest in the striker is growing rapidly ahead of the summer transfer window. Rivals Fenerbahçe have reportedly identified the Nigerian as their main attacking target after another frustrating title race against Galatasaray.

Reports in Turkey claim Fenerbahçe are ready to make an aggressive offer to tempt Trabzonspor into selling their leading scorer. The proposed package is said to include around €10 million alongside Turkish internationals İsmail Yüksek and Oğuz Aydın.

The Istanbul giants believe Onuachu’s physical presence could transform their attack after a season in which they often dominated possession without converting enough chances. Standing at 6ft 7in, the Super Eagles forward has caused problems for defenders throughout the campaign with his aerial strength, hold-up play and finishing inside the penalty area.

However, completing the transfer may prove extremely difficult. Trabzonspor only signed Onuachu permanently from Southampton last summer on a long-term deal and are believed to value him at around €15 million. The club are under little pressure to sell after his outstanding season.

There is also the emotional side of the story. Onuachu has become a fan favourite in Trabzon and has repeatedly spoken about his happiness at the club. Earlier this year, the Nigerian striker said he wanted to continue winning trophies with Trabzonspor after building a strong bond with supporters.

The fierce rivalry between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe could become another major obstacle. Relations between both clubs have often been tense over the years, meaning the sale of the club’s leading striker directly to a domestic rival would likely trigger huge backlash from Trabzonspor fans.

Still, all attention remains on the final game of the season, where Onuachu could crown a remarkable year by becoming the first Nigerian ever to finish as Trabzonspor’s Süper Lig top scorer.