Loïs Openda

Key strength: Link-up play

Target man

In the increasingly precarious depths of Ligue 1, Angers SCO sit 13th and winless in five, staring into the relegation abyss with mounting desperation. Yet their most expensive asset—Belgian centre-forward Loïs Openda, valued at a staggering €42.75 million—has become their most painful paradox. The 26-year-old possesses the complete striker's toolkit on paper: blistering 68 pace, refined 70 shooting, silky 68 dribbling. But reality has been cruel: just 2 goals and 0 assists from 34 appearances, finding the net only once every 646 minutes. Deployed as Angers' target man, Openda excels at link-up play, intelligently knitting together attacks and connecting with teammates. Yet when ruthlessness is required inside the box, the finishing touch deserts him. With 1,292 minutes burned and survival hanging by a thread, Openda's blockbuster valuation now feels like an albatross around a drowning club. The ability is undeniable; the delivery is non-negotiable. For both player and club, time is running out to justify that price tag.