Olympique Lyonnais have expressed interest in taking Juventus forward Arnaud Openda on loan, according to journalist Nicolò Schira. Initial contact between the clubs has taken place, with Lyon proposing a loan deal that includes an option to buy the Belgian international next summer.
Openda joined Juventus last summer for a significant fee under the direction of former director of sport, Cristiano Giuntoli, but has struggled to establish himself in the team under current manager Luciano Spalletti. He has seen limited playing time, prompting Juventus to consider offers for his departure to recoup some of their initial investment. The club are reportedly open to a loan arrangement to facilitate his exit.
Further interest in Openda is coming from other Ligue 1 clubs, including Lens and Monaco, with Lens initially enquiring about a loan with Juventus contributing to his wages. However, it is Lyon who have made the first formal approach, indicating a willingness to potentially secure Openda permanently should he perform well during the loan period.
Openda recently became a father, and is currently participating in pre-season training with Juventus at the Continassa training ground. Despite this, his future in Turin appears uncertain, and a move to France is increasingly likely. The 23-year-old forward previously played for Club Brugge and Vitesse before his move to Italy, and has represented Belgium at the international level.
The potential loan move would provide Openda with regular playing time, something he has lacked at Juventus, and allow him to showcase his abilities in a league where there is already demonstrated interest. For Juventus, it offers a chance to alleviate their attacking options and potentially offset some of the cost of his transfer.
