Leeds United’s search for another forward just got complicated. French club Rennes has made Juventus striker Lois Openda a priority target this summer, and that could slow down any deal the Premier League side hoped to line up.
Openda’s situation is weird. He joined Juventus last summer on loan from RB Leipzig for just over $4 million. But there was an obligation to buy baked into the deal, so Juve had to fork over another $40 million regardless of how he played. And he didn’t play well. Two goals in 34 appearances. That’s it.
Damien Comolli, Juve’s now former CEO, has already admitted the whole thing was a mistake. That’s rare. You don’t often hear executives publicly call their own transfers bad. But there it is.
Rennes has a plan. Leeds has a need.
According to French outlet Foot Sur 7, Rennes boss Franck Haise knows Openda from before and sees him as the ideal partner for Esteban Lepaul up top. The club is looking for someone to pair with Lepaul, not replace him, and they believe the Belgian fits that role perfectly.
Leeds already has Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha as preferred options up front. Joel Piroe hasn’t made much of an impact, so the club wants another body. Openda would give them depth and competition. Premier League football might also be a real draw for a guy who just bombed in Serie A.
Don’t expect this to wrap up fast
Reports say this could take weeks. Part of the delay is Openda himself. The 26-year-old hasn’t given up on making things work at Juventus under new coach Luciano Spalletti. He’s apparently determined to fight for his place. That stance alone could slow any negotiation.
Juventus, for their part, would rather loan Openda out than sell him permanently. They know they’re not getting their full investment back. So they’re open to offers that include either an obligation or an option to buy. Basically, they’ll take whatever structure limits the financial hit.
Other clubs are circling too. Former club Lens, Lyon, and newly promoted Coventry City have all shown interest. But Leeds might have an edge here. The club has good vibes right now. They’re back in the Premier League and building something. For a player trying to rebuild his reputation, that kind of environment matters.
Whether Openda actually wants to leave Italy, though, is still the open question. And that could keep this thing dragging through July.
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