Aston Villa are looking to return to prominence in the Premier League under the tutelage of the distinguished Unai Emery, and could deploy a new talisman into the ranks during the winter transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to French outlet Jeunes Footeux, Villa are among several English suitors, including Manchester United, to be eyeing a swoop for Genk’s Paul Onuachu, who has been sensational with his clinical edge in Belgium.

This follows up an earlier report from the same publication stating that Onuachu might be inclined to try his hand at a  major European league after such prolific form with Genk, with the outfit touting him at €25m (£22m). 

At the end of last year, Genk chief Dimitri de Conde told Het Laatste Nieuws (via voetball24), “Onuachu’s situation remains something special. At his age you never know what will happen”, amid the rising interest in his signature.

Ditch Ings

Aston Villa have certainly made considerable gains since the dismissal of Steven Gerrard after only 11 months in charge in October, but there is a long way to go until the pedestal the club strives to reach becomes the standard, as evidenced by the shock 2-1 home defeat to League Two outfit Stevenage in the FA Cup.

Since arriving, Emery has won three of his five Premier League matches, losing only at home to Liverpool, but despite the upturn in form after Gerrard left the outfit languishing near the pit of the Premier League table, reinforcements are paramount.

The 28-year-old Onuachu would embolden the Claret & Blue ranks and could finally bring a devastating talismanic force to the club, having recorded a remarkable 15 goals in 18 games for Genk this term, providing an imposing presence to ensure the club make a respectable finish before Emery has the summer to truly instil his philosophy ahead of his first full season in charge.

Ings, signing from fellow top-flight outfit Southampton for £25m in 2021, has failed to replicate the form and goal-scoring prowess that earned his lavish praise on the South Coast, and while he has netted seven goals this season, the levels of his performance leaves a lot to be desired.

As per Transfermarkt, the 30-year-old Englishman has only started eight of the possible 17 league outings for his side in 2022/23, including just one under his new Spaniard manager; despite this, he has managed six strikes and maintains the striking instinct that has led him to plunder a total of 68 goals in the Premier League.

In Onuachu, the 6 foot 7 Nigerian would offer a different kind of threat. The Belgium-based forward is one of the tallest in the game, being hailed as such for his qualities in the air. Former teammate at FC Midtjylland Alexander Scholz once said: “Years ago, when he was with us, he was already the best striker in our championship. It’s impossible to beat him because he’s so tall."

Thus, if the attacker can continue his devastating purple patch over to English soil, the "generational" talent, as dubbed by one data analyst, might be able to ascend Villa Park back to the forefront of the pack, helping to ditch the out of form Ings in the process.