'We were talking about a big transfer to England' - Ex-GK on out-of-form Tottenham-linked striker Gift Orban

Former KAA Gent glovesman Wim De Coninck has highlighted that 2023 Super Eagles invitee Gift Orban has not been performing at his best, a few months after he was linked with a big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur. 

Orban is no more guaranteed a starting berth at the Buffalos due to a dip in form and fitness issues. 

Since moving to Gent in the January transfer window, the dual national centre forward has mustered 27 goals in 39 all-competition appearances - a feat that earned him a nomination for the CAF men's Young Player of the Year award. 

Orban was courted by clubs in the top five European Leagues after putting himself in the shop window with 20 goals in 22 matches for Gent in the second half of last season. 

Against Basaksehir FK on March 15, he wrote his name in the record books by scoring the quickest hat-trick in the history of UEFA club competition.

Before Tottenham Hotspur's capture of Brennan Johnson. the Premier League table-toppers tested the waters regarding the signing of Orban, having opened a line of communication with the player's camp, but did not firm up their interest by making an official bid to Gent.

"We especially now see his shortcomings and he is fighting with himself. How to resolve this? It will take patience, I fear,"De Coninck said to Het Nieuwsblad, via Walfoot.

"We very rarely see Orban in the zone of truth. It must be difficult for him. There is Just a few months ago we were talking about a big transfer to England or elsewhere."

The former goalkeeper added: "Now he is on the bench at Gent and he has to overcome this difficult period, which is probably new for him. I'm sure they try to talk to him a lot at Gent, but if they then put him on the bench."

Orban ended a goal drought that lasted for 578 minutes when he found the net in Gent's 5-0 rout of  of Breidablik Kópavogur on matchday three of the Europa Conference League on October 26, but fired blanks in his next game against Patro Eisden.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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