Bundesliga or Serie A: What next for Gift Orban after Hellas Verona loan?

Nigerian striker Gift Orban has returned to Hoffenheim following the conclusion of his loan spell at Hellas Verona, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Orban joined the Serie A side on a season-long loan last August, but the stint did not go as hoped.

He registered seven goals and three assists in 28 appearances during what proved to be a tumultuous campaign for the club. Ultimately, his contributions were insufficient to save Hellas Verona from a 19th-place finish and subsequent relegation.

​In fairness to Orban, while his total output was decent, he was directly involved in ten of the team’s 25 league goals—accounting for 40% of their goals.

Despite this, with the club relegated, he has officially returned to his parent Bundesliga club, Hoffenheim.

​Will Gift Orban Remain at Hoffenheim?

​Orban’s original departure from Hoffenheim last summer was driven by the fact that he was deemed surplus to requirements.

Head coach Christian Ilzer favored other options like Adam Hlozek and Tim Lemperle. Under Ilzer’s guidance, Hoffenheim climbed to a 5th-place finish, a significant improvement from their 15th-place standing two seasons ago.

​Given this success, the club hierarchy is likely to grant Ilzer more authority in squad management, meaning he will have the final say on whether Orban stays.

​With the club qualifying for the Europa League, they will need a deeper squad to manage the demands of both domestic and continental football. This provides Orban a potential lifeline in Germany, where he remains under contract for another three years. However, the club may still opt to pursue a different striker rather than reintegrating him into the squad.

​Venezia Eyeing a Move

​According to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, newly promoted Serie A side Venezia have expressed interest in signing Orban as they look to bolster their squad for top-flight football.

​Orban represents an attractive option for Venezia, given his recent experience in the Italian league and his numbers despite the instability at his previous club.

​Because Serie A clubs are often less financially buoyant than those in other top-five leagues, Venezia are likely to propose a loan deal—an arrangement Hoffenheim might be willing to explore.

Orban is urrently valued at €7 million, but he was signed by Hoffenheim for €10 million last year. Consequently, the German club would likely hold out for a fee in the range of their initial investment before they decide to sanction a permanent sale.