Italian football giants, AC Milan have set sights on Super Eagles star, Gift Orban who is one of the hottest strikers in European football at the moment.
Orban’s talents have seen him scouted by several top teams across Europe, with AC Milan being the latest to join the fray. Barcelona, Manchester United and most recently, Tottenham, have all been credited with an interest in him.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato.com, AC Milan have shortlisted Gift Orban as one of the stars to lead their attack for next summer.
The Rossoneris already signed Samuel Chukwueze and Nigerian-born Switzerland international Noah Okafor in the summer. However, they have now turned their attention to Gent striker Gift Orban to bolster their attacking options.
Although Gift Orban is having a poor season so far by his standards, he has already found the back of the net 6 times in 14 games in the European Conference League and the Belgian top division.
His club manager, KAA Gent manager, Hein Vanhaezebrouck explained that Orban is struggling, even in training.
“Things are not going so smoothly with Gift either in training,” he said to Nieuwsblad.
He continued: “It’s very simple: someone who plays fantastically well in training always plays.
“We also think it is very strange, but I also mentioned that last year, everything worked and everything was great. Sometimes things just don’t work out, and Gift is just in such a moment, but that can also make him stronger, once he finds his way to the goal again.”
21-year-old Gift Orban burst into the limelight after grabbing headlines in the Belgian top division, where he netted 20 goals in 22 matches in all competitions in his first season with Gent.
Before his switch to Belgium, Gift Orban notched an impressive 19 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions for Norwegian second-division club Stabaek, helping them to gain promotion to the top flight.
Moreover, his rich vein of form was too good for Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro to ignore, prompting him to hand Orban a first call-up to the national team for the AFCON qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe. Sadly, an injury picked up in training prevented him from winning his first senior cap.
Gift Orban’s impressive form in front of goal saw the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham attempt to poach the youngster to the Premier League, with the former looking to plug the gaps left by England captain Harry Kane, who joined Bayern Munich.
However, none of the moves materialised, and Gift Orban remains in Belgium with Gent seeking more league success and European glory.
Italian side AC Milan who are preparing for life without the services of striker Olivier Giroud have lined up options to replace the Frenchman.
Chief scout Geoffrey Moncada and D’Ottavio have on their radar Mehdi Taremi and Jonathan David alongside Gift Orban.
AC Milan currently occupy top spot in Serie A, having won seven and drawn once in eight games so far.
