The race for Juventus striker Lois Openda is heating up, with Bournemouth and newly-promoted Premier League sides joining Leeds United in the chase for the Belgian forward. Despite a challenging season in Turin, the 26-year-old remains a hot commodity across Europe.
Openda arrived at Juventus last summer in a deadline-day move after the club missed out on Randal Kolo Muani. However, his time in Italy has been far from smooth. In 34 appearances across all competitions, the speedy attacker has managed just two goals, leading manager Luciano Spalletti to drop him from the squad rotation entirely.
The silver lining for Juventus? Openda continues to shine on the international stage with Belgium, and his reputation in the Premier League remains strong. Leeds United have been the frontrunners for weeks, but according to TEAMtalk, they now face stiff competition from Bournemouth and Coventry City.
Bournemouth's interest is particularly intriguing. The Cherries are expected to part ways with manager Andoni Iraola after a memorable three-year stint, with Marco Rose emerging as the top candidate to take over. Rose, who previously coached Openda at RB Leipzig, helped the striker find his best form during their time together in the Bundesliga. If the move materializes, it could be the perfect reunion to reignite Openda's career.
Coventry City, meanwhile, are looking to bolster their attacking options after securing a long-awaited promotion to the Premier League. The Sky Blues see Openda as a statement signing to help them compete at the top level.
Interest isn't limited to England. Openda's former club, RC Lens, who have secured a Champions League spot for next season, are reportedly monitoring the situation. Turkish giants Fenerbahce have also been keeping tabs for months.
Juventus triggered Openda's obligation to buy clause earlier this year, costing them €40 million. Given his struggles, a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy is seen as the most likely outcome this summer. For a player who once lit up the Bundesliga, a fresh start in the Premier League could be exactly what he needs to rediscover his spark.