Juventus have been forced to block Lois Openda’s departure despite the Belgian striker having no future under Luciano Spalletti, with a severe shortage of available centre-forces leaving the Serie A club unable to sanction a move before this weekend’s pre-season schedule.
The 26-year-old is not part of Spalletti’s plans for the 2026-27 campaign following an underwhelming debut season in Turin. However, with Dusan Vlahovic having exited the club after his contract expired on 30 June, Juventus find themselves critically short of attacking options ahead of a friendly against Standard Liège on Saturday (25 July).
Injury and availability crisis
Juventus currently have just two senior strikers available for selection: Openda and Arkadiusz Milik, neither of whom feature in the manager’s long-term thinking. New recruit Jeff Ekhator remains short of full fitness following his arrival, while Jonathan David is still on extended leave after his involvement at the 2026 World Cup.
This depleted forward line means Juventus are unlikely to allow Openda to leave for at least the next week, despite active negotiations with interested clubs.
French return likely
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, several Ligue 1 clubs have registered concrete interest in Openda. Monaco, Rennes, Lyon and Lens have all been mentioned as potential destinations, though Lyon and Lens are currently considered the frontrunners for the Belgian’s signature.
The proposed structure of any deal would likely involve a loan with an option to buy rather than an immediate permanent sale. This formula would allow Juventus to clear a significant portion of Openda’s wages from their 2026-27 budget while retaining the possibility of a future transfer fee.
Openda joined Juventus from Lens in the summer of 2025 but struggled to adapt to Italian football during his maiden Serie A campaign. A return to France, where he previously played for Lens, appears the most logical solution for all parties.
Juventus are expected to revisit Openda’s situation immediately following the Standard Liège fixture, provided Ekhator and David return to full training shortly thereafter. Until then, the unwanted striker remains a necessary squad member for Spalletti’s pre-season preparations.