Genk winger Joseph Paintsil admits even his own mother encouraged him to join Southampton before a move to the Championship outfit failed to materialise.
With things threatening to turn a little toxic just months into Russell Martin’s reign – the hangover from a disastrous 2022/23 season very much apparent as Southampton conceded nine goals in their last two matches – perhaps Joseph Paintsil is better off staying where he is after all.
The Ghana international, according to Genk director Dimitri de Conde, was supposed to join the Saints as part of the deal which would see Paul Onuachu return to his old employers; the former eventually getting cold feet while opting against a move to a club now ninth in England’s second tier.
They say ‘mum knows best’. But not as far as Paintsil is concerned.
Southampton and Leeds miss out on Joseph Paintsil
”A lot of people, whose opinions I respect, thought I should go. Even my mum told me to opt for a transfer!” Paintsil tells Het Laaste Nieuws. “My godfather said; ‘Joseph, Southampton is a good club. You’re going to kill it there’.
“But my heart said ‘no’.”
Paintsil, a constant threat from his favoured right-wing role, scored 18 goals and set up 14 more during a dazzling campaign last year. He will now be hoping to replicate those stunning statistics this term, while former sparring partner Onuachu looks to kick-start his career alongside Mislav Orsic at Trabzonspor.
“Onuachu was a very intensive file. You should know that Paul absolutely wanted to return,” De Conde tells Tech Talk.
“We were prepared as a club to make Onuachu the biggest incoming transfer for Genk ever, on a financial level. That had all been worked out. But, for Southampton, that would have to be done with an exchange with Joseph Paintsil.
“(Paintsil) wanted to stay, at the end of the day.”
‘Wanted to stay’
In addition to Southampton, Championship rivals Leeds United submitted an £8.5 million bid for Paintsil in August, discussions falling flat with Daniel Farke’s side feeling that Genk had ‘moved the goalposts’ at the eleventh hour (Sky Sports).
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