Former French Ligue One winners Olympique Lyonnais, have reportedly rejected bids from two different clubs for Nigerian forward Gift Orban.
German side Hoffenheim and French outfit Lens, were reported to have submitted bids to sign the 22-year old in the January transfer window, but the French giants have dismissed both bids as they are well short of his €12 million valuation.
The young forward joined Olympique Lyon in January this year for about €14 million after a very impressive season with Gent in the Belgian Super league. He scored 18 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions for the Belgian side, before he signed a four and a half year deal at the French club.
Orban had a slow start to life in France, struggling to displace former Arsenal striker Alexander Lacazette from the starting lineups. He struggled for form and consistency with just one goal in 13 league matches played.
He was however instrumental in Lyon’s run to the Coupe de France final, scoring twice in three games but was an unused substitute in the final, as the Les Gones lost to eventual winners Paris Saint Germain 2-1 in the final.
Injuries and the manager’s preference for both Lacazette and Georgia forward Georges Mikautadze, have limited the former Gent forward to just five appearances in all competitions this season.
He scored both of his goals this season coming on as a substitute in the 4-3 comeback win over Strasbourg, and has not made the match-day squad for the French side since October.
Hoffenheim’s rejected bid was their second attempt to persuade Lyon to sell, and with Lens also interested, Gift Orban could be given an escape route for a fresh start to his career.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
