Juventus players celebrate
Credit: Imago
Leeds United look almost certain to strengthen their attack this summer, with the club keen to add more firepower ahead of the new Premier League season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin carried much of the goalscoring burden last term, finishing with 14 league goals and establishing himself as Leeds’ main attacking threat. Beyond him, however, there was a lack of reliable support.
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Lukas Nmecha managed six league goals in 31 appearances, while Joel Piroe struggled to make an impact in a limited role and ended the Premier League campaign without scoring.
As a result, bringing in another striker has become a priority for Leeds, and Lois Openda is one of the names believed to be high on the club’s shortlist as they look to bolster their options up front.
Leeds ‘most keen’ to sign Lois Openda
Lois Openda has struggled since joining Juventus from RB Leipzig last summer, and the Serie A giants are keen to move him on this summer.
Juventus want to recoup most of the £35m they paid for the forward, and his representatives have been trying to shop him around in the Premier League.
Leeds are amongst the clubs contacted, but they have also been in touch with Everton and Nottingham Forest ahead of the transfer window.
However, according to TeamTalk, Leeds have shown the most interest in getting their hands on Openda ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The Whites see him as a potential excellent focal point of their attack and believe he can revive his career in the Premier League.
Leeds are said to be ready to pay significant wages to the forward and are open to signing off on an expensive loan-to-buy agreement this summer.
Openda has been open to a move to Leeds, but has several options on his table ahead of the summer.
He will be a huge gamble
From Leeds United’s perspective, this is a transfer that comes with far more questions than answers. Juventus are understood to want to recoup a significant chunk of the £35m they invested in Openda, and that alone makes it difficult to see where the value lies.
The striker’s form this season has done little to justify such an outlay. He has managed just two goals in 37 appearances in all competitions, and the fact that Juventus are already prepared to move him on should give any interested club pause for thought.
Negotiations would not be straightforward either. Juventus would ideally like a permanent sale and, even if they were open to a loan, they would almost certainly push for an obligation or option to buy as part of the agreement.
Openda’s wages are another major factor. His salary expectations are believed to be high, which further increases the overall cost of any deal.
That is where Leeds need to be particularly careful. Since returning to the Premier League, the club have taken a measured approach to spending, and investing heavily in both transfer fees and wages for a player coming off such a disappointing season would be a significant risk.