As reported by Philipp Hinze, RC Lens striker Loïs Openda will undergo a medical at RB Leipzig later today.
Once the medical is complete, only the final signatures will need to be made before the Belgian striker is officially announced by Die Roten Bullen. It will bring to a close the Saxons’ long pursuit of the 23-year-old after constant negotiations with the Ligue 1 runners-up.
As previously reported, Leipzig will part ways with an upfront fee of €38m in order to secure Openda, while there will be success-related bonuses for the French club. The 23-year-old is expected to sign a five-year deal that will see him remain in Saxony until the summer of 2028.
During Openda’s only campaign in Northern France, the striker scored 21 goals and collected four assists, ranking him the fourth top goalscorer in Ligue 1. While Openda’s fine form saw him receive multiple senior call-ups to the Belgium national squad, he would not be part of the World Cup squad and instead featured for the under-21 side at the European Championships where they would be eliminated in the group stages.
While Leipzig did have to pay a significant fee to land Openda, the 23-year-old has been Max Eberl’s preferred choice to replace the departed Christopher Nkunku. Despite key sales requiring the patience of head coach Marco Rose, Leipzig look to be building a side ready to compete in the Bundesliga next season.
GGFN | Will Shopland
