Gent CEO Michael Louwagie has questioned why Belgian sides are not able to get huge transfer fees for talents such as Gift Orban when Eredivisie sides are able to do so.
Spurs were linked with a whole host of strikers across Europe following Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich, with Orban widely reported as the North London club’s top target (CaughtOffside).
Gent’s Gift Emmanuel Orban celebrates after scoring during a first leg game between Belgian soccer team KAA Gent and Slovakian club MSK Zilina, in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League competition, on Thursday 27 July 2023 in Gent. BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
However, in the end, Tottenham decided against signing an out-and-out number nine, choosing instead to strike a £47.5m deal with Nottingham Forest for the versatile Brennan Johnson.
It has been suggested over the last few weeks by various publications, including Voetbal Krant, that Spurs pulled the plug on the deal for the Orban because they found Gent’s £25m asking price to be excessive for the 21-year-old.
That is not an opinion that is shared by Louwagie, who questioned why Belgian Pro League sides cannot demand the type of fees that Dutch clubs are demanding for their top attacking talent.
Could Tottenham go back in for Gift Orban?
When asked about the price being mooted for Orban, the Gent CEO told Het Nieuwsblad: “That has already made me angry. Why do Ajax and PSV sell players like Antony for 95 million euros and others for easily 40 to 50 million?
“And why should we think that 30 million euros is too much, even though the competition here is at least as good (as in the Eredivisie)?
“But we are Flemish. (We) look at each other’s plates and are jealous, instead of all demanding higher prices and helping Belgian football progress. We really need to stop doing that.”
Spurs Web Opinion
While it might be true that there is not much difference in terms of quality between the Eredivisie and the Jupiler Pro League, it is also true that Ajax and PSV Eindhoven are bigger than any club in Belgium, and are thus able to attract better talent to their clubs.
You will certainly not find any Premier League or La Liga side paying £50m-plus for players from Feyenoord, Alkmaar, or Twente.
Have something to tell us about this article?
