RB Leipzig have identified Lens attacker Loïs Openda (23) as a replacement for Christopher Nkunku and according to Kicker, the Belgian agreeing personal terms with the Bundesliga club will help in finding an agreement with the Ligue 1 runners-up.
Bild broke the story on Monday that Openda had reached a verbal agreement with Leipzig and per Kicker’s report, the transfer had been prepared well in advance. Last month, Openda visited Leipzig, the Red Bull Arena and the club’s training facilities, and was “blown away” by the conditions.
That resulted in an agreement between Openda and Leipzig until 2028. But after signing the Belgian attacker for €10m last summer, Lens are expected to play hardball over Openda, who scored 21 goals in 38 league games last season. As further reported by Kicker, Leipzig don’t particularly want to pay a fee higher than €30m, which would make Openda Leipzig’s most expensive signing.
Leipzig are also continuing their pursuit of Christoph Baumgartner, with an agreement between all parties, but the player’s move from Hoffenheim isn’t expected to be made official until after the international break.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
