18-GOAL STAR ADMITS HE REJECTED TRANSFER TO SOUTHAMPTON BECAUSE HIS ‘HEART SAID NO’
Joseph Paintsil, a Genk winger, says that his own mother wanted him to join Southampton before a trade to the Championship club fell through.
With things threatening to turn poisonous just months into Russell Martin’s rule – the hangover from a dismal 2022/23 season was on full display as Southampton lost nine goals in their previous two games – perhaps Joseph Paintsil is better off remaining put after all.
According to Genk director Dimitri de Conde, the Ghana international was meant to join the Saints as part of a deal that would see Paul Onuachu return to his old club; the former finally having cold feet and declining a move to the Saints.
‘Mum knows best,’ they remark. But not so, according to Paintsil.
Joseph Paintsil is unavailable to Southampton and Leeds.
“A number of people, whose opinions I value, advised me to go. Even my mother advised me to choose a transfer!” Het Laaste Nieuws quotes Paintsil. “‘Joseph, Southampton is a good club,’ remarked my godfather. You’re going to kill it there’.
“However, my heart said ‘no.'”
Paintsil was a constant threat from his preferred right-wing position last season, scoring 18 goals and setting up 14 more. He’ll be looking to reproduce those impressive stats this season, while former sparring partner Onuachu aims to make a name for himself alongside Mislav Orsic at Trabzonspor.
“Onuachu was a lengthy file.” You
“As a club, we were prepared to make Onuachu the most expensive incoming transfer for Genk ever.” Everything had been figured out. However, for Southampton, that would require an exchange with Joseph Paintsil.
“At the end of the day, (Paintsil) wanted to stay.”
‘Wanted to stay’
In addition to Southampton, Championship rivals Leeds United made an £8.5 million approach for Paintsil in August, with Daniel Farke’s side believing Genk had’moved the goalposts’ at the last minute (Sky Sports).
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