Liverpool 'very hot' on RB Leipzig forward Lois Openda

Liverpool are 'hot' on RB Leipzig forward Lois Openda, according to one report.

The 23-year-old Belgian has been in impressive form for Leipzig since his €46m summer move from Lens, scoring nine times in 12 Bundesliga outings so far, as well as four in five Champions League games.

On Tuesday, the striker earned wider attention with an impressive double in Leipzig's 3-2 defeat against Manchester City and is fast becoming one of Europe's best young attacking prospects.

Openda scored twice in the first 33 minutes at the Etihad Stadium to give his side a shock lead, though he was powerless to stop City's eventual comeback.

According to Belgian transfer reporter Sacha Tavolieri – who many fans will recall from the Romeo Lavia saga – Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, are 'already very hot' on Openda.

Tavolieri posted the claim on X during Leipzig's Champions League outing, following up a since-deleted post that also mentioned Liverpool's supposed interest.

The Reds' good relationship with the Red Bull group is well-known, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino all moving to Anfield from Leipzig or Salzburg in recent years.

The former RB Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl – who oversaw Openda's move to Germany – has also been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks.

However, while Openda may well be a player the Reds' recruitment team are following as Tavolieri claims, the chances of a transfer in the near future seem remote.

Liverpool have already spent big on Darwin Nuñez, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo to upgrade the attack in the last two years, while improving the defence is the known transfer priority in 2024.

In addition, German reporter Christian Falk revealed last month that Openda's contractual release clause won't kick in until 2025.

He told Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing: “Leipzig are a little relaxed at the moment, as next summer there's no active release clause for Lois Openda. It begins in 2025 and I heard it's a bit higher than the €80m [£69m] that has been reported elsewhere."