Gift Orban benched in Vanhaezebrouck’s squad rotation raises eyebrows amid Tottenham links

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly targeted Gift Orban as a replacement for Harry Kane if he signs with Bayern Munich

KAA Gent manager, Hein Vanhaezebrouck, has once again stirred intrigue within the KAA Gent camp with his rotation strategy that keeps Gift Orban on the bench, Soccernet.ng reports.

The recent move by Vanhaezebrouck, a manager who enjoys keeping his team competitive, has brought attention to the Nigerian prodigy and sparked concerns about the young player’s position and future.

According to Voetbakrant, throughout recent matches, particularly while he was on the bench, Orban’s body language has spoken volumes.

The excellent Nigerian striker has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur to replace Harry Kane, and the coach’s obvious disinterest has also sparked rumours, raising concerns about his ambitions and the Nigerian’s position on the squad.

Amid the speculation, Vanhaezebrouck has been candid in addressing the situation, acknowledging the curiosity surrounding his strategic decisions.

“Everything has a reason. I understand that it is difficult for journalists to estimate everything, since you see little of the training sessions,” he said.

While Orban’s expressions have fuelled speculation, Vanhaezebrouck is quick to quell any notion of discord.

He added: “I am not a coach who immediately calls a disgruntled player to order. There is no problem between Orban and me. But in the meantime, everyone knows that I am a coach who rotates when I can rotate.”

Vanhaezebrouck also leaves the door open for Orban’s potential return to the pitch, even suggesting that the 21-year-old may find himself on the bench during the upcoming fixture against Pogon.

“Orban is 21, he’s a young guy, his time will really come. In world football there is sometimes an experienced name who sits on the bench every weekend. I’ve seen internationals smash the dug-out out of frustration.” Vanhaezebrouck asserted.

The Nigerian forward had been expected to give the Buffalos a tough summer window, and given that he had been on Tottenham’s radar, it would be the ideal moment to think about leaving Belgium in search of a first-team jersey.