Leeds United have secured their Premier League place for another season with games still to play, and attention is already starting to turn towards the summer transfer window.
With survival now confirmed, the club have begun stepping up their preparations for the summer and are looking at several potential targets before the season finishes.
Unlike last year, Leeds are not expected to overhaul the squad, but they are still aiming to strengthen several important areas ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Lois Openda has emerged as one of Leeds’ leading striker targets as the club look to add more firepower up front this summer, with the Juventus forward likely to move on from Turin this summer.
Leeds are the ‘frontrunners’ to sign Lois Openda
Lois Openda has struggled at Juventus this season, and the Serie A giants are ready to sanction his departure from the club in the upcoming transfer window.
Juventus are keen to recoup as much of the £35m they spent on him up front, and Leeds are seriously interested in taking him to Elland Road this summer.
According to TEAMTalk, Leeds are now the favourites to secure the striker in the upcoming transfer window.
Leeds are prepared to make a significant financial commitment to ensure that Openda joins the Yorkshire giants ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The Whites are ready to offer the striker significant wages to consider a move to the club this summer.
Openda is also open to the move and is ready to test himself in the Premier League after struggling in Italy this season.
Incoming Bournemouth manager Marco Rose wants to reunite with the former RB Leipzig striker at Selhurst Park this summer.
However, as things stand, Leeds are the favourites to secure the forward on an expensive deal this summer.
Can Leeds do better than him?
Bournemouth look set to qualify for Europe and could even secure a Champions League place by the end of the season.
Openda already knows Marco Rose well, and with Rose expected to take charge at Bournemouth, the striker could favour a move to the south coast over Leeds, given the success they enjoyed together at RB Leipzig.
That might not necessarily be bad news for Leeds, though. Openda has struggled to reproduce his best form in Italy and has not looked anywhere near as effective as he did during his time in Germany.
If Leeds are going to spend around £35m plus significant wages on a striker, they need someone who looks like a more reliable option right now.
The club are still not in a position where they can afford expensive risks, so targeting a forward with a stronger Premier League pedigree may prove the smarter move this summer.
