Olympique Lyonnais perhaps has its strongest argument in the complex issue of Endrick’s succession at the forefront of the Lyon attack: the will of the player. While the Rhone board, led by Matthieu Louis-Jean, is actively looking for a top striker to support Rémi Himbert following Endrick’s return to Real Madrid, Loïs Openda is rather open to the Lyon approach.
Far from being resistant to a return to the French championship, the 26-year-old Belgian international has even taken a further step. According to our information, he recently sent very positive signals to OL management. The opportunity to return to a league where he shone, to have a central role in the attack, and above all to play the third preliminary round of the Champions League at the beginning of August, resonates perfectly with his need to bounce back after missing the 2026 World Cup.
OL must now thwart Juventus’ plans
If Lyon has the advantage of heart and sporting ambition with the player, it will have to be ingenious to convince Juventus. The Piedmontese club is in high demand, particularly in England, and that is exactly where it wants to place its attacker at €42.5 million. The reason? Juve hope that a British team (like Coventry) will take over the entirety of Openda’s huge salary, under contract until 2030 or even buy him directly and permanently. It is precisely this financial mountain which complicates the enormous efforts of RC Lens, another declared candidate for the player.
The Artesian club, which despite everything still hopes for a miracle in this matter, simply cannot align itself without massive support from the Italians. This is why the winner of the last French Cup is currently working on other alternatives. OL, which has a financial resources slightly greater than that of Lens, is therefore warned. But with Loïs Openda very receptive and ready to push to join the Rhône, Lyon has a key asset to try to convince Juventus in the coming days.
