Gift Orban transfer: Striker set to follow in Victor Osimhen’s footsteps

Gift Orban transfer: Striker set to follow in Victor Osimhen’s footsteps
Credit: Icon Sport

Highly-rated Super Eagles prospect Gift Orban has attracted another suitor in Ligue 1 club RC Lens, as the possibility of a move like Victor Osimhen increases for him.

In similar fashion, Osimhen completed a move from Belgian First Division A club Sporting Charleroi to French side Lille in 2019, before completing a move to Napoli the following year.

Osimhen is now regarded as one of the top forwards in world football and another Super Eagles prospect could be on his way to creating a legacy of his own.

Orban is highly rated by a number of clubs in Europe but many are treading carefully because of his limited experience on the big stages.

After being linked to Barcelona in La Liga, West Ham United and Burnley in the Premier League, Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga and LOSC Lille in Ligue 1, another Ligue 1 club, Lens, is preparing to throw their hat in the ring for the 20-year-old striker.

Gift Orban emerges as second choice for Lens

Lens, like the other clubs who have been linked with the transfer of Orban, is also playing it safe.

The Nigerian dynamite made his way to Europe in 2020 via Norway. Since that time, he has played for three clubs because of his incredible ability. He has not been able to find a home, however, but his goal exploits help to boost his profile and cast no doubt on his adaptability.

The 2023/24 season will be his fourth season in Europe and his first full one in a top-10 league. His profile suits a number of teams, but all of them, including new suitors Lens, are looking at him as a second choice.

In the case of the team based in the North of France, they are looking to sign Red Bull Leipzig striker Alexander Sørloth.

The Swede spent the past two seasons on loan at Real Sociedad in Spain but the Basque club have not made any moves to make his stay permanent.

Gift Orban
Photo by Icon Sport

Leipzig want to get rid of him and Lens have their sights set on him because they are gearing up to lose Loïs Openda, who is being targeted by other clubs after just one season.

Leipzig is one of the main teams reported to be interested in Openda. They could choose to include Sørloth in their bid for the 23-year-old Belgium international. The possibility of Sørloth being signed permanently by Sociedad remains, leading Lens to consider  Orban as an option.

Youth an advantage for Gift Orban

Sørloth's age (27) could also count against him, according to Footmercato, as Lens value the youth of Orban (20) and sees him as an asset for the future.

 

Lens are also looking at Evangelist Pavlidis of AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie as an option to replace Openda.

The 24-year-old Greek international was also prolific last season, like Openda, Sørloth and Orban. He scored 22 goals and provided 14 assists in 40 total games for Alkmaar and is currently attracting interest from a number of clubs in Germany and France.

It remains to be seen what Lens would do and who they will go with to replace Openda.

Orban, meanwhile, is focused on becoming an even better version of himself in Gent's pre-season.

This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago

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