Leeds United Contact Failed Serie A Striker For Transfer: Will A Loan Suit The PL Side?

Leeds United Contact Failed Serie A Striker For Transfer: Will A Loan Suit The PL Side?

Leeds United are one of three clubs pushing to sign Loïs Openda from Juventus this summer, with AFC Bournemouth joining the race alongside Stade Rennais. That’s according to Calciomercato.it, which backs up earlier reports from Sport Witness. The 26-year-old Belgian forward is expected to move on after managing just two goals in 34 appearances for the Turin club. Juventus are open to a loan deal with an option to buy, which is a setup that suits Leeds perfectly as they look to avoid the financial risk of a massive upfront fee.

Leeds United and Bournemouth eye Juventus outcast Loïs Openda in the summer transfer window

Openda moved to Juventus on loan from RB Leipzig last September, with a deal that included an obligation to buy if the Old Lady finished in the top ten of Serie A. With Juve currently in fourth and sitting 21 points clear of tenth-placed Sassuolo with only five games left, that clause is a formality. However, even though the move is becoming permanent, the club clearly see him as surplus to requirements.

His stats at Juventus tell the story. He played just 675 minutes across 24 appearances, averaging only 28 minutes per game, and started just six times. Since late February, he has seen only five minutes of action across two matches, a clear sign that Luciano Spalletti has moved on. While his expected goals (xG) sat at 3.57, five big missed chances and zero assists show a player who has struggled to find his rhythm and has become a bit-part player.