Gift Orban scored a hat-trick in the Champions League qualifiers as the Gent striker produced a superb audition to replace Harry Kane at Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.
Whether Tottenham’s captain accepts Bayern Munich’s offer remains to be seen – there remains a nagging feeling that he would rather stay this side of the Channel and chase down Alan Shearer’s Premier League record – reports that Daniel Levy has finally accepted an offer from the Bundesliga champions should see Spurs step up their pursuit of a replacement (The Athletic).
And this is where Gift Orban comes in.
Tottenham, according to Het Nieuwsblad, opened talks with Orban’s representatives last week. What’s more, Ange Postecoglou has given the Nigerian the green light, with the London giants willing to invest £26 million in a player who, as recently as 2021, was plying his trade back home in West Africa.
Gift Orban could replace Harry Kane at Tottenham
Orban scored a remarkable 20 goals in 22 games in his debut season at Gent. And, picking up where he left off, the 21-year-old has begun the new campaign in similarly empathic style; flying out of the blocks with five goals in his first three outings of 2023/24.
Three of those came on Wednesday night. Orban’s hat-trick helping Gent put Pogon Szczecin to the sword in the Champions League qualifiers.
If the first was rather straightforward – tapping home a loose ball – the second was anything but. Orban showcased neck muscles stronger than Dwayne Johnson’s resistance bands as he looped a brilliant header over an advancing goalkeeper.
His third of the net was the best of the lot; bamboozling a baffled defender before lashing into the far corner. It was a finish Harry Kane – who made a career out of firing fizzing shots into the postage stamps – would have been proud to call his own.
“He’s a phenomenon,” Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck beamed at full-time. “And he will continue to be a phenomenon. I’ve said it five times and I’ll keep saying it.
“Even if he is no longer here, he will remain a phenomenon, and I will continue to say that.
“His hat-trick? That is nothing special in itself anymore, is it?”
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