Nigeria Players Abroad
Mohamed Salah’s Trabzonspor move could boost Paul Onuachu’s goals, says Emre Gural
Former Trabzonspor forward Emre Gural believes Mohamed Salah’s arrival at the Turkish club will create more scoring opportunities for Nigeria striker Paul Onuachu.
Salah agreed a two-year contract with Trabzonspor on Thursday after his deal at Anfield expired, bringing his highly successful Premier League career to an end. The Egypt international’s move has immediately raised expectations around the club, with Gural confident his presence will have a positive impact on Onuachu.
Speaking to Turkiyegazetesi, Gural said opposition defenders would be forced to devote considerable attention to Salah. That, he believes, will leave Onuachu with more space and give the striker additional chances to use his strength and finishing ability inside the penalty area.
“Paul Onuachu will now receive the ball in a much different way and create different positions.
“Onuachu will create more space because the opposing team’s players will focus on Mohamed Salah. Onuachu is a very good striker with consistency in scoring goals,” Gural told Turkiyegazetesi.
Gural suggested that the defensive measures opponents take to limit Salah could change the way Onuachu is supplied. He expects the Nigeria international to benefit from the attention directed towards the Egyptian forward, particularly when he moves into dangerous positions in and around the box.
“So, if he finds a little more space thanks to Salah, he can score many different goals.
“A player like Salah is a plus for any team. When Salah attacks, the opposing team will be forced to try to take precautions.
“Otherwise, Salah will finish the match himself. I think that if precautions are taken against Salah, players like Onuachu will find more space,” Gural concluded.
Salah’s move to Trabzonspor follows the expiry of his contract at Anfield, where he established himself as one of the most influential forwards in Premier League history. His arrival gives Trabzonspor an attacking player capable of attracting several defenders, while also potentially creating room for Onuachu to operate closer to goal.
The tactical effect described by Gural could be particularly significant for Onuachu, whose game relies on receiving service in the penalty area and making the most of his physical presence. With opposing teams likely to focus on Salah when he carries the ball or attacks from wide areas, Onuachu may be presented with different opportunities to score.
Gural’s assessment is that Salah’s individual threat will benefit the wider Trabzonspor attack rather than simply adding another goalscorer to the squad. By forcing opponents to adjust their defensive shape, Salah could create the openings that allow Onuachu to score in a greater variety of ways.
