In a bid to strengthen their squad ahead of the summer transfer window’s closure, Fulham is actively pursuing the Nigerian forward Gift Orban from Gent. The young striker has also attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and the French club Lille, both vying for his signature. Fulham sees the 21-year-old as one of the top three ideal replacements for Aleksandar Mitrovic, who recently departed the London-based club for Al Hilal in a record-breaking £46 million deal.
Since arriving from Norwegian second division club Stabaek in January last season, Orban has made a significant impact at Gent, netting an impressive 20 goals in 22 matches. His prowess on the field continues this season, as he has already scored six goals in six games, including a stunning strike against Pogon Szczecin in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.
Belgian media outlet hln.be reports that Gent is demanding a transfer fee ranging from £30 to £40 million for their prized asset. However, Fulham has yet to submit an offer and seems hesitant about meeting the requested price. “There is no offer at the moment. The asking price is currently intimidating them,” the source states.
As negotiations progress, Gift Orban remains a standout performer in the Belgian league. He and his team are set to face APOEL Nicosia in the first leg of the Conference League play-offs on Thursday. This encounter marks the first meeting between the two teams in this competition. Gent reached the quarter-finals of the European tournament last season, only to be eliminated 5-2 by eventual champions West Ham.
AfrikPage with News Agencies