Burnley FC keen to beat Southampton in ambitious swoop for highly-rated forward | OneFootball

Burnley are eyeing an ambitious late deal for Lyon's Gift Orban

Burnley are believed to be looking to beat Southampton to a deal for highly-rated Lyon frontman Gift Orban before this evening's 11pm transfer deadline, in what would prove to be a real statement of intent by Scott Parker and co.

The Clarets' interest in Orban is courtesy of a recent update by Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, who reported via his X account on Thursday evening that Burnley are eyeing the 22-year-old but face stiff competition from the newly-promoted Premier League side.

It has been a trying finale to the summer transfer window for Burnley, with a mass squad exodus taking place at Turf Moor amid a series of high-profile player departures across recent weeks. The Clarets have made no more than 19 outgoings and counting throughout the summer and the likes of Dara O'Shea, Wilson Odobert, Wout Weghorst, Anass Zaroury and Sander Berge, among others, have all left the club as of late.

However, Burnley appear keen to offset such wholesale exits and are believed to be "confident" of striking a deal for Plymouth Argyle forward Morgan Whittaker despite seeing an initial bid dismissed by Wayne Rooney earlier this week. They have already signed Hannibal Mejibri and Jaidon Anthony recently and will be hoping to make Orban the latest arrival at the club.

Burnley's interest in Lyon frontman Gift Orban

O'Rourke's report will come as something of a surprise to supporters, confirming that Burnley are among Southampton and an undisclosed number of clubs in considering a move for Orban in the final throes of the window.

The report does not make reference to whether the deal would come as a loan or permanent signing although Orban would very much represent a replacement for Lyle Foster, who is reportedly close to completing a loan switch to Ipswich Town.

Orban joined Lyon earlier this year following a goal-laden spell with Belgian top-flight outfit Gent but has struggled for minutes at the Groupama Stadium thus far and has not featured this eason.

The 22-year-old, who counts the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Said Benrahma, and Rayan Cherki among his current teammates at Lyon, could be set for a last-minute departure from the club in order to rekindle his goalscoring form elsewhere.

Gift Orban deal may prove difficult for Burnley amid Southampton transfer interest

There is little denying that Burnley could reap all the rewards of signing Orban, who was touted as being up there with the most promising young forwards across Europe only last year and would undoubtedly prove a real hit in the Championship.

Indeed, he would likely provide a potential upgrade on Foster instead of simply replacing him in Parker's side, but it simply does not appear likely that a player of his quality and pedigree will head to the Championship.

Southampton have been extremely ambitious in the transfer market and can sell a progressive strategy under Russell Martin along with, of course, Premier League football, which is a big advantage in comparison to Burnley. Many players overseas dream of strutting their stuff in English football's top division and there may well be further interest from Southampton's top-flight rivals.

There will certainly be more top-flight sides across Europe interested in Orban though, and while it would obviously represent a masterstroke to bring him to Lancashire today, Burnley supporters should perhaps avoid getting too hopeful.