Leeds United have now launched an approach to sign Lois Openda from Juventus, and the Serie A giants have given the green light for the attacker to leave.
Leeds launch approach to sign Openda
Leeds have been absolutely flying since the end of the international break. In the space of three games, they’ve sealed their place in an FA Cup semi-final, won at Old Trafford for the first time in 45 years and defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers to move eight points clear of the dropzone with five games left to play.
Daniel Farke was delighted after another victory at Elland Road, but insisted that the job is not done yet, telling reporters: “To be there with 39 points, with five game-days to go, is a fantastic position to be in, but the feeling is still that we probably need to win one, perhaps even a few more points.
“And for that, we will not allow ourselves to take our foot off the gas. We will stay focused, concentrated and want to win this one (point), or perhaps even a few more points as soon as possible, to have it also mathematically done.”
PL relegation battle
Leeds United
39 points
Nottingham Forest
36 points
West Ham
32 points
Tottenham
31 points
Burnley
20 points
Wolves
17 points
Whilst the German continues to focus on securing victory on the pitch, however, the 49ers are already planning for a busy summer transfer window.
The Leeds owners have already set their sights on the likes of Leo Scienza at Southampton and it seems as though attacking reinforcements will take priority.
According to reports in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds have now launched an approach to sign Openda from Juventus this summer. The Turin club are reportedly ready to sell the forward in the coming months, with the Yorkshire club and Bournemouth in contact to land his signature.
Lois Openda form, play style and stats
It’s not been an easy debut campaign for Openda in Turin. The Belgian has started just six Serie A games and found the back of the net twice in all competitions. Given that he arrived for £35m last summer, Juventus would have been expecting a whole lot more.
It tells the story of his time at the club that the Italian giants are ready to move on so soon after Openda arrived, but Juventus trash could quickly become Leeds gold.
Openda has played just 652 minutes in the Serie A this season
Dubbed “fast and dangerous” by former Leipzig teammate Christopher Nkunku during his time at the club, it’s worth noting just how successful Openda was in Germany.
Openda at Leipzig
Games
93
Goals
41
Assists
18
Competing for the forward’s signature with a Bournemouth side on the cusp of battling for a European place will be no easy task this summer, but it’s a positive sign that Leeds are even in such a conversation just one year after promotion.
As far as Openda is concerned, he’s a got a major decision to make this summer. Things have far from worked out at Juventus and he now needs to get his next move right.