Openda Struggles at Juventus as Lyon and Lens Battle for His Loan

Loïs Openda has failed to impress at Juventus Turin: two goals in 34 appearances across all competitions, and the Turin management is now looking to loan him out this summer. According to L’Équipe and Foot Mercato, Olympique Lyonnais and RC Lens are among the contenders to acquire the 26-year-old Belgian striker.

Arriving in Italy last summer via a loan with a mandatory purchase option of €42.8 million from RB Leipzig, Openda has never recaptured his German form. During the 2023-2024 season with Leipzig, he had scored 28 goals and provided 7 assists in 45 matches. The drop-off is stark, and Juventus no longer counts on him for the upcoming campaign.

Lens is studying a return for the centre-forward, who wore the Artois shirt during the 2022-2023 season. The northern club, qualified for next season’s Ligue des Champions, is looking to strengthen its attack following the departures of Wesley Saïd, Allan Saint-Maximin and Adrien Thomasson. But Openda’s monthly salary, exceeding €600,000, represents a major obstacle for Lens’s finances.

This constraint could work in Lyon’s favour, as the club is reputed to have greater financial flexibility. Lyon has not yet entered into formal discussions with Juventus, unlike Lens. Coventry, freshly promoted to the Premier League, is meanwhile already in contact with the Turin club and represents serious competition for the two French sides.