German Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund are set to battle for the signature of struggling Nigerian striker Gift Orban, with Lyon willing to part ways with the 22-year-old for €25m.
The forward, who joined the French club for €14m from Belgian side Gent in January, has endured a difficult spell in France, managing just 73 minutes of action in the past two months and featuring in only two of Lyon’s last 13 matches.
According to BVB WLD, both German clubs admire the Nigerian striker and are weighing up moves for the former Gent star, who has found himself surplus to requirements at the troubled French club.
Lyon’s financial crisis, which has seen their debt surge from €458m to €508m under John Textor’s Eagle Football Group ownership, has forced the club to consider selling its assets.
The seven-time French champions were recently hit with strict sanctions by French football watchdog DNCG, including a transfer ban and provisional relegation to Ligue 2 despite currently occupying fifth position in Ligue 1.
Orban’s struggles in France have been particularly pronounced this season under Pierre Sage. After missing Lyon’s first two games, he marked his debut with a goal and followed up with a spectacular brace in a 4-3 victory over Strasbourg.
However, he failed to score in his next two starts and has since been relegated to the bench.
The striker’s difficulties represent a stark contrast to his prolific spell at Gent, where he netted an impressive 32 goals in 52 appearances. His current contract with Lyon runs until 2028, but the club’s desperate financial situation could force them to accept a cut-price deal.
Turkish giants Beşiktaş had previously emerged as frontrunners for Orban’s signature, with manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst keen to partner him with Italian striker Ciro Immobile.
However, the interest from Leipzig and Dortmund could provide the Nigerian with a chance to revive his career in one of Europe’s top leagues.
The striker is in a list of stars including Alexander Lacazette, Nicolás Tagliafico, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Rayan Cherki, and Wilfred Zaha who could be offloaded to ease Lyon’s financial burden during the January transfer window.
