Leeds United target Lois Openda playing for Belgium
Leeds United target Lois Openda playing for Belgium
Leeds United have been mentioned as a suitor for Lois Openda over the past few weeks. Juventus are now drawing up a plan for the player.
The Bianconeri signed the Belgian on an initial loan deal from RB Leipzig in the summer. As they had high hopes, an obligation to buy was also inserted in the deal. This was to be activated when Juve’s finish inside the Serie A top ten became guaranteed.
That has now happened, with the Italian side set to pay €40m to the German club.
Disappointingly, Openda has failed. He has just one Serie A goal and looked like a shadow of himself. He’s played only four minutes over the past five league games, with Luciano Spalletti not seeing him as part of the future.
Last week,Sport Witness covered Leeds United’s interest in the striker. There is now some encouragement from Italy.
Juve have plan in place
Quotidiano Sportivo today make it clear that Lois Openda will leave the Old Lady in the summer. It is believed the 26-year-old has ‘disappointed enormously’, with Juve unable to recoup what they paid.
That is why they are keen on loaning him out in the summer. Their objective is to revive his career during this loan, with Leeds United handed the chance.
But in 2027, they would want to sell him permanently for as much as they can. Jeremie Boga has already come in as a replacement, doing well since joining in January.
Our take: Leeds should seek option to buy
A dry loan deal for Lois Openda wouldn’t make any sense for Leeds United. They won’t want to revive the player’s career and then send him back to Juve.
That’s why Daniel Farke’s side should move for a loan with an option to buy. They can assess the player’s development in the first season and then make a choice.
Juventus will likely go for this.