Nigerian striker, Paul Onuachu, has turned down a return to his former side Genk in a swap deal.

Southampton offered Onuachu in a direct swap deal with Genk which would have seen Joseph Paintsil join the Saints.

According to The Athletic, both clubs reached an agreement for the transfer valued at €10 million including add-ons.

However, the deal collapsed after the Ghanaian as well as Onuachu rejected the move.

"Southampton direct swap with KRC Genk between #SaintsFC striker Paul Onuachu + #Genk winger Joseph Painstil now off. Clubs reached agreement & aimed to complete deal valuing both at €8m + €2m add-ons - but players have rejected the move," Athletic reporter David Ornstein tweeted.

Onuachu joined now English Football League Championship side Southampton in the 2023 January transfer window for a transfer fee of €18 million, including add-ons.

He scored 16 goals in 19 games in the Belgian top-flight league before his transfer to the English side who were relegated at the end of the season.

Joseph Paintsil, on the other hand, finished last season has the African with the most goals involvement in Europe, scoring 16 goals and providing 14 assists in 35 games in all competitions.

He is the marksman for the Belgium side and attracted interest from some Premier League sides but the clubs failed to make an official bid for the 24-year-old.

EE/KPE