Man Utd tracking RB Leipzig 23-year-old with Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho set for exit

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 11 Dec 2023 09:17 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United are tracking RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda, according to reports.

The Mirror state that they looking at the striker as they line up replacements for Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho next year.

The Belgian international has scored 14 goals in 21 games for Leipzig since his £35 million move from Lens last summer, with club scouts watching over the player at the Etihad Stadium last month.

Openda scored a brace twice against Manchester City in a 3-2 Champions League group stage defeat by Pep Guardiola’s men, all under the watchful eye of the Red Devils’ recruitment staff.

The 23-year-old also scored against the Premier League champions during their home tie in Leipzig in October.

Despite only joining up with the German outfit for a year, Openda has attracted several elite sides to his availability following his stunning form for Leipzig.

Among the sides are Tottenham, who are also on the lookout for a striker. Richarlison has struggled to deliver goals after the Brazil international’s £60million transfer from Everton in 2022, though he did bag himself a brace in the club’s 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle on Sunday.

There are still concerns about who will have the final say about Man Utd’s recruitment and just how much power Erik ten Hag will have in bringing in targets amid new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe coming in and wanting to take over football operations.

What did Erik ten Hag say about the January transfer window?

Ten Hag has hinted it could be a quiet January transfer window due to Financial Fair Play constraints: “As a club, you have to look for improvements, so if you can find better and it’s realistic financially and with financial fair play, I think the club has to go with it," he told United We Stand.

"But realistically, in relation to the market, most of the time you don’t attract the best players in the winter. The top, top players will not leave their clubs in the winter. It’s players who are disappointed, injured or just not the right fit or whatever.”