Declan Rice and Loïs Openda transfer updates: Bayern Munich became champions of Germany again on Saturday, but there is no one in Bavaria who is satisfied with how the season has gone. Next season should be better and the search for possible reinforcements is already in full swing. Thomas Tuchel takes the initiative himself.
Bayern renovation started: Tuchel calls English international Rice
Tuchel was appointed at Bayern at the end of March, succeeding Julian Nagelsmann who was sent off, and is normally still working at the Allianz Arena next season. That does not apply to general manager Oliver Kahn and technical director Hasan Salihamidzic, who have been thanked for services rendered. Jan-Christian Dreesen will succeed Kahn as CEO.
It is not yet known who will be the new technical director in Munich. Still, there is already a lot of searching for players who can strengthen the team and Sky has understood that Tuchel is committed to the arrival of Declan Rice. The captain of West Ham United is having a very strong season and seems ready for a step higher after this season.
Arsenal is serious about Rice (24), but he is also in the picture at Bayern. Tuchel (ex-Chelsea) is impressed by the qualities of the 41-time England international and has already had a telephone conversation with Rice, according to Sky. In addition, the midfielder would have indicated that he is quite open to a move to the south of Germany.
Bayern intend to knock on West Ham’s door to inquire about transfer terms, it is claimed. Rice still has a one-year contract with his current employer. Yet it is claimed that West Ham wants around €100 million for his captain. Bayern’s record purchase is currently Lucas Hernández, who came over from Atlético Madrid for eighty million euros in 2019. Bayern paid 67 million euros for Matthijs de Ligt last year.
Lens president admits the club can’t hold on to Loïs Openda
Loïs Openda shot no fewer than twenty times in Ligue 1 this season. The Belgian attacker was awarded a place in the team of the year for his successful year, in the forefront alongside Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. The last time a Lens player scored at least twenty goals was in 1994. Then it was Roger Boli, this time Openda.
Lens president Joseph Oughourlian knows there will be privateers coming up for players like Openda in the coming summers. “We are a club that will go into Europe. That it is the Champions League makes me happy. This season we had a great team and fantastic fans. After all those tough years in Ligue 2, everyone could benefit from this great moment,” he revealed.
“Lens has completely changed as a club,” said the chairman who has held sway at the club since 2018. After two seasons under Oughourlian’s rule, the club was promoted, having only played one year at the highest level in nine seasons before. Now it goes into the Champions League. He added, “When I took over the club, we had seventeen million euros in revenue. Now we are going to reach one hundred and twenty million euros. I look with pride at our work. The Champions League, I could never have imagined that.”
The chairman doubts whether he can keep his success formation complete. “Those things are out of your control. We qualified for the Champions League, but we are aware of the magnitude of the achievement. If the big clubs come for our stars, there’s not much we can do. Then we have to prepare for the replacements,” he admitted.
