Arne Slot Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Arne Slot Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
Anfield Watch understands Liverpool are ready to spend a premium on a no.10 who could be perfect for Arne Slot.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones may have flourished in recent weeks, but that doesn't mean the Reds are not exploring alternative options for the attacking midfielder role at Anfield.
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Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards are always planning ahead for the future and were interested in signing a promising talent last summer before he moved to the Premier League.
That talent in question is Bilal El Khannouss who still remains on Liverpool's transfer radar and who the Reds will be ready to splash the cash.
Why Liverpool are ready to splash the cash on Bilal El Khannouss
Liverpool have been closely monitoring the progress of the Moroccan international since he emerged as a promising young talent in Belgium.
El Khannouss played at Anderlecht before moving to Genk and has benefitted from Belgium's excellent development system before making the move to the Premier League.
While at Genk, Liverpool were interested in El Khannouss' services with the youngster having shown a lot of promise. However, they were turned away by the £21m price tag.
At the time officials at the club viewed spending that much money on a player from the Jupiler Pro League as too much of a risk. Instead, El Khannouss moved to Leicester City, who were willing to take a punt.
But that doesn't mean Liverpool have given up on a future deal for El Khannouss. Anfield Watch understands the club continues to monitor the 20-year-old and they are ready to pay a Premier League premium to sign him in the future.
El Khannouss is starting to showcase his talent, having starred in Leicester's 3-1 win over West Ham, scoring and grabbing an assist in that game.
He also found the back of the net against Manchester United just over a month ago in the EFL Cup.
More importantly he seems to have gained the confidence of Leicester's new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has started El Khannouss in both games so far.
Bilal El Khannouss Liverpool
© IMAGO - Bilal El Khannouss Liverpool
Why Bilal El Khannouss is the perfect no.10 for Arne Slot
The reason Liverpool scouts had flagged El Khannouss as a potential option for Liverpool is not merely due to his technical ability and excellent positional awareness.
It was his energy and ability to cover a lot of ground on the pitch while playing as an attacking midfielder that caught the eye of the club's scouts.
Just to illustrate that in a stat - in the last calendar year, he ranks in the 99th percentile for recoveries and in the 96th percentile for tackles made per 90 among his positional peers as per FBref.
Having a no.10 with a high defensive work-rate is a key component of Slot's football and something that characterises Szoboszlai in particular.
That is why a big move for El Khannouss if he continues his start under Van Nistelrooy is something that is definitely on the table for Liverpool at the moment.
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