Gent boss Wouter Vrancken has publicly criticized Nigeria defender Jordan Torunarigha, accusing the centre-back of lacking commitment amid strong speculation linking him with a move away from the club.
Torunarigha has been frozen out of the Gent squad for their UEFA Conference League qualifier against Danish side Viborg, with Vrancken claiming the player's head is elsewhere. The Nigerian has played no part in the club's five competitive matches so far this season.
The Buffalos are bracing themselves for a potential exodus of key players, with Torunarigha joining Tarik Tissoudali and Julien De Sart on the list of potential departures.
Serie A side Monza have made a concrete offer of €3.5m for the former Hertha Berlin man, while Premier League side West Ham and fellow Italian clubs Bologna and Torino are also keeping tabs on the situation. Gent value Torunarigha at between €7m and €8m.
The one-cap Super Eagles defender out of Vrancken’s plans
With his contract set to expire in June 2025, the writing appears to be on the wall for the Nigeria international, who could be playing his final games for Gent.
Explaining why Torunarigha was omitted from the roster for the trip to Denmark, Vrancken was quoted as saying by Voetbalkrant: “It's true that he didn't travel for extra-sporting reasons.
“I want players who are fully committed to the club and want to fight for the colours. That is not the case with Jordan at the moment.”
Torunarigha has appeared in 104 official matches for The Buffalos, including 94 starts, and won the Belgian Cup in 2021-2022.
The 26-year-old has impressed since joining Gent from Hertha Berlin in 2022, initially on loan before completing a permanent move. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with several clubs across the continent vying for his services.
