GENK manager Wouter Vrancken was unable to rule out an exit for his top-scorer and Saints target Paul Onuachu, admitting: “You never know.”

Saints are in talks with the Belgian title challengers over a permanent deal for their six-foot six-inch tall Nigerian international striker.

Onuachu has scored 16 goals in 19 league games for Genk so far this season after a move to the Premier League fell through in the summer.

The forward wants to play top-flight football in England but it remains to be seen if Rasmus Ankersen can convince Genk to sell him in January with the right financial package.

READ MORE: Transfer Deadline Day: Southampton incomings and outgoings

Belgian media revealed last week that Saints had an offer rejected for Onuachu, while boss Vrancken has today spoken out.

“You never know what's going to happen," Vrancken tells HLN sport. "But I live very brightly in the here and now.

“Paul showed (in training) this morning that he likes to be here, but I'm also not so naïve as to think that nothing can happen today. An exciting day?

“I'm not looking too brightly ahead. Paul was very involved in the match preparation at Eupen and I am counting on him tomorrow. There is nothing to criticize about his attitude.

"Of course, a departure of Onuachu would be a bloodletting," Vrancken continues. “If you look at Paul's statistics, sixteen goals in half a season, you obviously don't like to lose that. Although I'm still counting on him for the time being."

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