Hellas Verona is on the verge of acquiring Nigerian forward Gift Orban from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim on a loan deal, beating out French side Toulouse for his signature.
The 22-year-old, who scored four goals in 13 Bundesliga appearances last season, is expected to complete the move imminently, as Verona seeks to bolster its attack under coach Pablo Zanetti.
According to reports, Verona has reached a full agreement with Hoffenheim for a loan with an option to buy.
The deal includes a €1 million loan fee and a €9 million purchase option. Verona will also cover Orban’s full salary.
Orban is currently moving to Italy for a medical examination, with all parties exchanging the necessary paperwork.
The transfer comes after Toulouse, who were initially interested, withdrew their pursuit, leaving Verona in a prime position to sign the Nigerian international.
The move marks another chapter in Orban’s recent career.
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After gaining recognition at Gent and a subsequent move to Lyon, he transferred to Hoffenheim in January.
Although he had a promising start with four goals in his first seven matches, injuries and inconsistent performance led to a scoreless final six appearances.
His absence from Hoffenheim’s recent DFB-Pokal match signalled his likely departure.
With four years remaining on his contract at Hoffenheim, Orban is reportedly not in the plans of manager Christian Ilzer for the new season, making a move to Serie A an opportunity to regain form and confidence.
In addition to Orban, Verona is also targeting Boca Juniors’ midfielder Vicente Taborda and Southampton defender Armel Bella-Kotchap.
The club recently began its Serie A season with a 1-1 draw against Udinese.
