Arsenal are reportedly plotting a summer move for Lens striker Lois Openda, who has lit up Ligue 1 with Franck Haise's side this season.
The 23-year-old departed Club Brugge in the summer transfer window to make the move to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis and has shone during Lens' surge to the podium spots.
Openda has found the back of the net 17 times in Ligue 1 this season, in addition to producing three assists in 32 top-flight outings under the tutelage of Haise.
Thanks to Openda's efforts, Lens are in the driving seat for Champions League football as they occupy third place in the Ligue 1 table with just six games left to play.
Les Sang et Or - who were playing Ligue 2 football as recently as 2019-20 - had also briefly threatened a title charge, but Paris Saint-Germain have now opened up a nine-point lead over Haise's side in first place.
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Nevertheless, the striker's exploits have apparently led to interest from Arsenal, according to the Daily Mail, who claim that the Premier League leaders could launch a pursuit for his services in the summer.
Openda penned a five-year contract upon his arrival at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis last summer, so Lens are under no real pressure to sell with his contract due to run until the summer of 2027.
Lens' stance could change if Arsenal made an offer that the Ligue 1 high-flyers could not refuse, but they are planning for the possibility of Champions League football with Openda leading the line.
The Gunners could also face competition from Aston Villa - managed by ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery - for the signature of Openda, who spent two seasons on loan with Vitesse between 2020 and 2022 before departing Club Brugge permanently.
Lens reportedly paid as little as €10m (£8.8m) to bring Openda to the club last summer, so Haise's side can expect to make a healthy profit on their prolific striker should he be sold ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
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The eight-cap Belgium international experienced an eight-game scoreless run between January and March, but he has rediscovered his shooting boots to fire home eight goals in his last six Ligue 1 matches, including a brace in last Saturday's 3-0 win over Monaco.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is not short of central attacking options at present, with Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard - an astute winter signing from Brighton & Hove Albion - all battling to start in the number nine position.
Alongside Openda, Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun has also been an unexpected goalscoring sensation in Ligue 1 since joining Reims for the 2022-23 season, netting 18 goals in 31 outings thus far.
The England Under-21 international has unsurprisingly attracted glances from several European clubs thanks to his performances, with the likes of AC Milan, Marseille and as many as four Premier League clubs understood to be keeping tabs on his progress.
Balogun is contracted to Arsenal until 2025, but the Gunners are supposedly open to selling the 21-year-old this summer, providing they receive a bid of at least £26m, which could open the door for Openda to arrive in North London.
Ben Knapton
