Leeds United are scouting Lois Openda but the Premier League outfit may have to part with a club-record £35 million to take the Lens talisman away from Ligue 1’s perennial high-flyers during the summer transfer window.
It’s certainly hard to imagine Openda passing up the sort of gilt-edged chance Patrick Bamford scuffed agonisingly wide of the Leicester City goal late on Tuesday night.
That may still be a miss which costs Leeds their top-flight status; Bamford struggling to recapture his lockdown form following yet another injury lay-off.
Whichever division Leeds find themselves in come next term, a new striker is likely to be priority number one. Any deal for Openda, however, is dependent upon Javi Gracia keeping heads above water over the final few fixtures.
Leeds United must replace Patrick Bamford with Lois Openda an option
Openda, L’Equipe say, has ‘quadrupled’ his market value in less than 12 months at RC Lens. He is now valued at around £35 million, via Get Football News France.
That may have something to do with the fact the Belgium international has scored 17 goals in just 23 starts for a Lens side dreaming of Champions League qualification. He scored twice and set up the other during last week’s 3-0 thrashing of Monaco; only Kylian Mbappe, Alexandre Lacazette, Jonathan David and Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun more prolific in France’s top flight.
“He didn’t score but today he was excellent!” Lens coach Franck Haise said following a recent clash with Strasbourg. “He tired out the defenders, he won us free-kicks, he ran into space, he battled.
“He (gives us) a new dimension these days, whether he scores or not. If he plays like that, it’s brilliant for the team!”
“Lois is mentally very strong. But what counts is putting in the hard work, keeping your feet on the ground. You have to be humble as a player so that even when you reach your objectives, you set new ones!
“Whatever happens you need to believe in yourself and in your work and he does that very well!”
Openda even scored a five-minute hat-trick against Clermont. The quickest Ligue 1 treble since 1967.
Leeds, FootMercato say, are one of a number of clubs who have scouted the former Vitesse Arnhem star this season.
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