Why Lois Openda would be Leeds’ biggest talent since Raphinha
Leeds could secure their biggest talent since Raphinha by paying a club-record fee to sign Openda, who would cost more than the £35.5m that was paid for Georginio Rutter at the start of 2023.
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Firstly, he would be the most expensive player in the club’s history and the most expensive signing or sale since they cashed in on Raphinha for £55m almost four years ago.
Secondly, he has the potential to be the club’s biggest threat in front of goal since Raphinha left, after Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 14 goals in the Premier League this season.
Goal record in all competitions
Season Club Openda
25/26 Juventus 2
24/25 RB Leipzig 13
23/24 RB Leipzig 28
22/23 Lens 21
21/22 Vitesse 22
20/21 Vitesse 13
Calvert-Lewin has never scored more than 16 goals in the Premier League in his career, whilst Openda scored 21 goals in Ligue 1 in the 2022/23 campaign and 24 goals in the Bundesliga in the 2023/24 season.
The Belgian star struggled at Juventus this year, but he only started six Serie A matches. He has proven himself to be a prolific scorer in France and Germany, which suggests that the Old Lady did not find a way to use him effectively.
Daniel Farke has shown that he can get the best out of strikers, as evidenced by Calvert-Lewin jumping from three league goals for Everton to 14 for Leeds, and Openda could benefit from his coaching.
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If the German tactician can get the best out of the £40m-rated star, Leeds could find their first player to score 20 or more goals in a Premier League season since Mark Viduka managed it in the 2002/03 campaign.
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Openda, who was described as a “blistering” forward by U23 scout Antonio Mango, would be the only player in the entire Leeds squad to have scored 20 or more goals in any of Europe’s major leagues.
He would also arrive at Elland Road with more Champions League goals (six) than any of his teammates, depending on who else the club decide to sign.
lois-openda-juventus
Therefore, Openda could be the club’s biggest talent since Raphinha because of the money involved in a potential deal and the goalscoring pedigree that he offers domestically and on the European stage.
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