Premier League outfits including Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Leeds United have been linked with Leicester City ace Bilal El Khannouss.
Leicester City travel to Preston North End this afternoon as the Foxes look to continue their winning start to the Championship season.
On opening weekend, Leicester beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 thanks to goals from Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes.
However, Marti Cifuentes’ side suffered a shock defeat to League One Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup opening round in mid-week, with a 3-2 defeat on penalties.
With the summer transfer window approaching its climax, the footballing future of Foxes ace Bilal El Khannouss has become clear.
Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester City
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss’ ‘priority’ transfer is to Crystal Palace
Leicester playmaker El Khannouss has been in high demand throughout the summer transfer window as a result of the Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League.
Several top flight clubs have been interested in the Moroccan international, with Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Leeds United, and Sunderland all linked with the 21-year-old this summer.
EFL Analysis exclusively revealed this week that the fee Leicester want for El Khannouss is close to his release clause, which expired on Thursday.
Earlier in August, reports emerged that Crystal Palace had shortlisted El Khannouss for a summer transfer, and now it appears that the Eagles have won the transfer race regarding the youngster.
Reporter Sacha Tavolieri revealed on X: “Crystal Palace DID MADE a first £20M bid for Bilal El Khannouss rejected by Leicester City!
🔵🔴🦅 EXCL – Crystal Palace DID MADE a first £20M bid for Bilal El Khannouss rejected by Leicester City! ❌
🇲🇦 #CPFC planning to make to complete El Khannouss move with new decisive bid if Eberechi Eze’s finishes to Tottenham.
✍🏼 Morrocan’s priority is the Eagles as he gave… pic.twitter.com/3A7485sZNX
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) August 16, 2025
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#CPFC planning to make to complete El Khannouss move with new decisive bid if Eberechi Eze’s finishes to Tottenham.
Moroccan’s priority is the Eagles as he gave already green light on 4 years move. #LCFC accept to sell Moroccan leaves even if release clause has expired.”
With Crystal Palace emerging as El Khannouss’ next footballing destination amid Eberechi Eze’s imminent move to Tottenham, the task for Cifuentes is to replace the Moroccan, who was named in his starting XI to face Preston.
Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Marti Cifuentes will be desperate for Leicester City to keep Bilal El Khannouss
El Khannouss starred against Sheffield Wednesday by assisting both goals in the Foxes’ comeback win on opening weekend.
Unfortunately for Cifuentes, the Moroccan missed a penalty during Leicester’s cup defeat to Huddersfield Town, but El Khannouss remains one of the best attacking talents in the second tier.
Leicester may have found El Khannouss’ replacement in the form of Ukrainian starlet Yegor Tverdokhlib, but it will be difficult to source the quality that the Foxes playmaker possesses.
Since arriving from Genk in 2023, El Khannouss has scored three goals and registered seven assists in 38 outings in all competitions for the Foxes.
His display against the Owls proved how imperative El Khannouss is to Leicester, and Cifuentes will be gutted to see him exit the King Power Stadium with the inevitably impossible task of finding his suitable successor on the horizon.