Leeds United Can Sign 26-year-Old On Loan: Why They Should Push For An Option To Buy? | OneFootball

Leeds United are among the clubs keeping tabs on Lois Openda, with Juventus now putting together a plan to move the Belgian striker on this summer. The 26-year-old joined the Bianconeri on loan from RB Leipzig before the 2025/26 season, a deal that included an obligation to buy if Juve finished in the top ten of Serie A. With that finish now confirmed, a €40m permanent transfer has been triggered, but Openda has done very little on the pitch to earn that kind of price tag.

Leeds United eye loan move for Lois Openda as Juventus draw up summer plan

He has managed only one Serie A goal, with a modest FotMob rating of 6.37 across 653 minutes. His involvement has completely stalled lately, seeing just four minutes of action over the last five league matches. Manager Luciano Spalletti seems to have moved on, especially with January signing Jeremie Boga performing well and pushing Openda further down the pecking order.

Italian outlet Quotidiano Sportivo reports that Juve intend to loan Openda out this summer. The hope is that a change of scenery will rebuild his market value before they look for a permanent sale in 2027. Leeds United have been linked with the move via Sport Witness, and these latest reports from Italy add some genuine importance to what was originally just quiet speculation.

Why Leeds should push for an option to buy?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MARCH 28: Lois Openda #9 of Belgium looks on during the second half of the international friendly between the United States and Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A simple loan deal doesn’t offer much for Daniel Farke. If Leeds manage to get Openda back to his best, and there is reason to think the right system could spark his old form, they would essentially just be doing Juventus a favour by fixing their player for them.

The better move for Leeds is a loan with an option to buy. This lets the club see how he handles English football over a full season before deciding whether to commit. Since Openda’s stock is at an all-time low right now, Leeds actually have some decent control at the negotiating table.

Juventus need him playing and scoring again rather than sitting on the bench if they want to recoup any money by 2027. Meanwhile, Leeds could sign a striker with high potential without the massive price tag usually attached to proven goal scorers. There is a risk involved, but including an option to buy turns a gamble into a smart bit of recruitment.