Manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck insists that Gent are ‘ready’ for the departure of key players amid reports that Tottenham Hotspur are in talks to bring Gift Orban to the Premier League.
To say that Gift Orban would have big shoes to fill at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would be one hell of an understatement. Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich last week saw the London giants lose not only a living legend, but also last season’s 32-goal top scorer.
Orban, meanwhile, is a decade Kane’s junior. He was plying his trade in Norway just one year ago, and back home in Nigeria as recently as 2021. But what Orban lacks in proven, top-level experience, he certainly makes up for in the ‘potential’ department.
A remarkable tally of 25 goals in 26 games for Gent speaks for itself. Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri believes that Tottenham will ‘accelerate’ talks for the 21-year-old poacher in the coming days, and a lethal 51 minute hat-trick during Gent’s UEFA Conference League qualification victory over Pogon Szczecin did little to suggest that a move to one of English’s bonafide big-hitters would come about too soon.
Tottenham Hotspur in Gift Orban talks
Gent’s veteran coach, meanwhile, tells Het Nieuwsblad that Gent will roll with the punches over the final two weeks of the window. Vanhaezebrouck knows that retaining Orban may be easier said than done. And, if the dead-eyed Nigerian does go, a replacement will be brought in.
“In the end, (our key players) are all still here. Whoever is gone is gone,” Vanhaezebrouck explains. “At the moment, we have most of the guys with us. We are living day by day and seeing what the next day brings.
“I live from day to day, so I look ahead but not too far. It makes little sense to look too far ahead. Of course, we always try to arm ourselves, but the situation is not always obvious. Sometimes we sign someone when someone else has left.
“We live in the present and try to be ready at any moment, if something were to happen.”
According to The Athletic, Tottenham believe a deal could be done for Orban for £20 million plus bonuses. Spurs are also eyeing Montpellier’s Elye Wahi.
Montpellier president Laurent Nicollin confirmed as much a few weeks ago.
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