Belgian publication Het Laatste Nieuws (as relayed by Sport Witness) have claimed that scouts from Tottenham were ‘convinced’ Gift Orban would be an excellent acquisition but they were ‘scared off’ by Gent’s asking price during the summer transfer window.
The report explains that Spurs were not the only club eyeing a move for Orban in the summer, with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Benfica also sending their scouts to watch him in action.
Gent’s Nigerian forward #20 Gift Emmanuel Orban celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round 1st leg football match between KAA Gent and Pogon Szczecin at the Ghelamco Arena in Gent on August 9, 2023. (Photo by JASPER JACOBS / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT (Photo by JASPER JACOBS/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
Some of these clubs allegedly enquired about his availability, with the 21-year-old’s entourage said to have had an ‘eventful summer’.
Out of these clubs, Tottenham were the most impressed with the youngster, with some at the North London club considering him ‘an excellent investment for the future’.
Gift Orban wanted to join Spurs this summer
The report adds that the striker made it clear that he wanted to join Spurs, which is why he was benched by Gent for a couple of matches.
However, it is explained that the Belgian club set the asking price of €30m (£25.8m), which put off Tottenham from pursuing a deal.
The outlet asserts that Fulham also showed late interest in Orban but they also considered the aforementioned asking price to be excessive, considering the striker had only had six good months in the Jupiler Pro League.
Spurs Web Opinion
I found it ridiculous how Spurs fans who had not watched Orban play a single game were suddenly demanding that the club buy him and were convinced that he was the answer, based on nothing more than a couple of YouTube videos.
While the 21-year-old evidently knows where the back of the net is, the fact that he has not even been a regular in Gent’s starting eleven this season suggests that he is perhaps not as good (yet) as some think.
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