According to Football Insider, RB Leipzig will ward off approaches from Premier League club for Lois Openda. The German outfit does not want to sell their €43 million Bundesliga attacker after only six months, as he’s seen as vital to their season.
Lois Openda made his move from Lens after helping the French side gain Champions League qualification after a second-place finish in Ligue 1. He had featured on the radars of many top Premier League sides but chose to sign for RB Leipzig to further his career.
Leipzig paid a club record fee for the €43 million Bundesliga attacker. The move then helped Lens break their record to sign Elye Wahi as Openda’s replacement. The Belgian international has been sensational, notching five goals and two assists in all competitions.
Premier League clubs are still pursuing the striker ahead of the January window. Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are among those keen. Leipzig have no intention of considering offers for the Belgian so soon, as they see him as vital to their season.
Chelsea and Manchester United had links recently, with the Blues keen to add to their forward line. They lack a top-draw striker, although in recent games, Armando Broja and Nicolas Jackson have steadied the ship at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United are also keen on Openda, as they might look for a player who could potentially replace Anthony Martial. The latter does not provide much to Erik ten Hag’s style and may get sold when the window opens.
Moreover, Manchester United are facing a tricky time with their wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho. Ten Hag wants a player who can play across the front three, with Openda ticking those boxes. Some reports also mentioned Arsenal as a suitor, but realistically, Mikel Arteta might look at another profile of a forward.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also part of the chasing pack for Openda, although they do not need a forward of his profile. Unless Mohamed Salah departs in January, the Merseysiders are unlikely to make any approach for the €43 million Bundesliga attacker despite links with the Belgian.
For Leipzig, it’s a no-brainer to keep Openda beyond the January window. For starters, they paid a record sum to sign the striker, and secondly, they have already lost at least three of their top stars during the summer.
As they sit fifth in the Bundesliga standings, the club sees Openda as a key star for their current campaign. He can prove his importance by helping them qualify for the Champions League next season.
