Leipzig updates: RB submit third bid for Openda, Eberl promises fans "more exciting players."
RC Lens managing director Arnaud Pouille - as quoted by Oliver Hartmann of Germany's Kicker Magazine - has confirmed that RB Leipzig have submitted a third bid for striker Loïs Openda.
In an article quoting Pouille on an article on Kicker's website, Hartmann also quotes RB manager Max Eberl's vow to the club's fans from this morning's Leipziger Volkszeitung.
Eberl directly addressed the recent departures and promised that he and his front office staff would sign "more exciting players."
Since agreeing to terms with RB Leipzig nearly a month ago, striker Loïs Openda has remained with Ligue 1 runners-up RC Lens whilst the two sides negotiate a transfer fee. The fact that Leipzig have now seen two offers for the 23-year-old rejected is now widely corroborated. Leipzig's initial bid was rumored to be in the €30-million-range whilst Lens are sticking to an asking price of €45 million.
In an article quoting Pouille on an article on Kicker's website, Hartmann also quotes RB manager Max Eberl's vow to the club's fans from this morning's Leipziger Volkszeitung.
Eberl directly addressed the recent departures and promised that he and his front office staff would sign "more exciting players."
While the two sides were initially an entire chasm apart, the recent departure of Dominik Szoboszlai and quite possibly Josko Gvardiol leave the German Red Bulls in desperate need of making a strong statement on the transfer market soon. The Saxony-based club is also flush with €70 million from the Szoboszlai transfer and €60 million for Christopher Nkunku. Gvardiol could net the club €100 million or more.
RC Lens managing director Arnaud Pouille - as quoted by Oliver Hartmann of Germany's Kicker Magazine - has confirmed that Leipzig have submitted a third bid for his star striker. Pouille has not immediately rejected this one offhand and wishes to examine it in more detail. It is not known as to whether Leipzig have significantly upped their offer.
Speaking to the Leipziger Volkszeitung earlier today, RB managing director Max Eberl acknowledged that the recent departures might leave the fans of the club concerned. The recently installed chief personnel executive nevertheless pointed to the fact that Leipzig had already signed quality replacements in the form of Nicolas Seiwald, Christoph Baumgartner, Benjamin Sessko, and (most recently) Fabio Carvalho.
"I can understand the disappointment and worries of the fans," Eberl (as quoted by Hartmann) told the paper, "No club, no person in charge and no coach in this world likes to lose players of this caliber. But the whole thing did not catch us unprepared - and I can promise that we will have a top class and thrilling team again."
"We've already signed some really good lads," Eberl continued, "And we will add more extremely exciting players."
Leipzig might need to contend with the possibility of losing fullback Benjamin Henrichs as well this summer.
Eberl already finds himself on the losing side of the poker game with respect to his search for another right-back. Sky Germany reported on Saturday that Feyenoord Rotterdam rejected Eberl's opening lowball bid for Lutsharel Geertruida.
Knowing full well how enormous Leipzig's transfer surplus this summer is, few clubs will be willing to settle for bargain basement prices when it comes to their players.