French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon have rejected transfer offers from RC Lens and Bundesliga club Hoffenheim for Nigerian striker Gift Orban, Softfootball reports.
Orban is widely expected to leave Lyon during the January transfer window after falling out of favour and spending several weeks outside the club’s matchday squad.
According to reports from France, Lens submitted an €8 million bid for the forward, but Lyon turned down the offer as they are holding out for a fee closer to €12 million. The Ligue 1 outfit had also shown interest in signing the Nigerian during the previous summer transfer window.
Hoffenheim are believed to be leading the race for Orban’s signature after making two separate proposals, with their latest offer reportedly worth €10 million. However, that bid also failed to meet Lyon’s valuation.
The 22-year-old joined Lyon from Belgian club KAA Gent in January 2024 after impressing with his remarkable goalscoring exploits. Since arriving in France, however, he has struggled for regular playing time due to competition from experienced striker Alexandre Lacazette and Georgian international Georges Mikautadze.
With interest from multiple clubs growing, Orban is expected to secure a move away from Lyon before the close of the January transfer window.
