Leeds United face competition from other clubs to sign Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss, but they are still in the running for the playmaker.
Bilal El Khannouss would improve the Leeds United attack with guile and creativity, and the Leicester playmaker could replace Brenden Aaronson as Daniel Farke’s attacking midfielder this summer.
It’s also been reported that El Khannouss’ wage demands would not be a problem for the Whites. El Khannouss was part of our dream Leeds XI earlier in the summer and now interest is seriously ramping up.
It was said Leeds held a meeting with El Khannouss’ camp last week and also that Leeds’ El Khannouss interest has been most serious of any of the reported teams in the mix.
Abdul Fatawu and Bilal El Khannouss - Leicester City vs Fiorentina
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Leicester City more likely to sell Leeds target Bilal El Khannouss than other forwards
Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen also like El Khannouss, with the 21-year-old catching the eye despite relegation. It speaks to his quality that Newcastle United have also been linked with El Khannouss in recent days, too.
Champions League clubs in the race make it harder for Leeds to land him and it’s also reported that Spurs are monitoring El Khannouss’ situation. However, Leeds are competing with more than just that.
Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett claims Everton are currently unwilling to meet Leicester’s demands for Abdul Fatawu and that means Leicester are more likely to sell El Khannouss as things stand, with interest in him from many clubs.
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The other club with the strongest interest in the player appears to be Crystal Palace who like El Khannouss and see him as a potential Eberechi Eze replacement. However, Dorsett adds that RB Leipzig are also monitoring him with Leeds and Palace.
Bilal El Khannouss in action during Leicester City v ACF Fiorentina - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Bilal El Khannouss’ view of playing in European competition
It’s also thought that playing in Europe is not decisive for El Khannouss, even though most of the interest comes via teams in that competition.
Palace’s interest is perhaps most interesting, given that they may be able to hand him the first-team minutes on the most consistent basis of any names involved in the running.
At 21, El Khannouss needs to be playing to develop and hone his game further. Newcastle, Leipzig, Leverkusen, and the like cannot afford that sort of guarantee.
If Leeds can give assurances of game time, then perhaps Palace are the major player to knock out of the race before the release clause expires.