Sunderland will reportedly compete with Aston Villa to sign 25-year-old Belgian international Lois Openda from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Sky Germany journalists Florian Plettenberg and Philipp Hinze, Lois Openda is the subject of interest from Sunderland. The Black Cats are keen on reinforcing their offensive unit by signing another striker in the summer transfer window. So, the 25-year-old RB Leipzig centre-forward has emerged as a target for the newly promoted Premier League club.

Sunderland will face stiff competition from Aston Villa for the former RC Lens attacker’s signature, with the West Midlands outfit pursuing him as a possible long-term replacement for Ollie Watkins amid the English striker’s links with Manchester United.

How has Lois Openda fared for RB Leipzig?

Lois Openda has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining RB Leipzig from RC Lens in July 2023. While the 25-year-old has been a first-choice starter for Die Roten Bullen in the last two years, his output has not been consistent in his two seasons with the Bundesliga club.

The Belgian international was not as influential as he could have been in the 2024/25 season, but he still managed to contribute to 24 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions by finding the back of the net 13 times and providing 11 assists. Meanwhile, Openda’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Aston Villa and Sunderland are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the summer transfer window.

Premier League adventure beckons?

Aston Villa’s interest in Lois Openda makes sense. The Villans are combing the market for a striker this summer amid uncertainties surrounding Ollie Watkins’s long-term future. The English international has emerged as a target for several Premier League bigwigs, and Aston Villa may face a tall order to keep him at Villa Park. So, Openda has emerged as a viable target for the West Midlands outfit.

As for Sunderland, Marc Guiu is closing in on arriving on a season-long loan spell from Chelsea. However, the newly promoted Premier League club may not be done yet, with Regis Le Bris demanding more firepower in the final third. So, Openda is an option worth considering for Sunderland.

The Black Cats have already completed one audacious signing from the Bundesliga, with Granit Xhaka arriving from Bayer Leverkusen this month. It will be interesting to see if Sunderland can beat Aston Villa to Openda’s signature if they launch a bid to sign the 25-year-old Belgian international from RB Leipzig.