West Ham United have to step up their attempts to sign Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester, particularly if one of their already-present creative midfielders could leave the club this summer.
The 2025/26 season will mark West Ham's first full campaign under the management of Graham Potter. Formerly of Chelsea and Brighton, Potter was drafted in by the Hammers at the turn of 2025, having sacked Julen Lopetegui who, despite financial backing from the board, struggled to make things click at the London Stadium.
Potter signed Evan Ferguson from former club Brighton last winter as he oversaw a relatively indifferent few months. The Hammers looked set for mid-table when Potter arrived, something that didn’t change between his appointment and the end of the season, though Potter has now had a pre-season and summer transfer window to bolster his squad.
West Ham have, at the time of writing, made four signings this summer, not including the permanent addition of Jean-Clair Todibo, which was negotiated when he joined the club on loan last year. Striker Callum Wilson and defender Kyle Walker-Peters have joined for free, while the club have spent almost £40 million combined on goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf.
With time remaining before the deadline, West Ham remain in the market for further signings, though they may have to contend with some departures alongside that. Fabrizio Romano has revealed that, after being cleared of breaching betting rules, Lucas Paqueta may look to depart London before the window slams shut on September 1st.
Paqueta has struggled for consistency with the Hammers, but the Brazilian departing would leave West Ham lacking creative midfield options, especially since Mohammed Kudus has joined Tottenham. As such, they should push ahead with their interest in one particular star who looks destined to leave his current club.
West Ham Should Sign El Khannouss
Bilal El Khannouss in action for Leicester City
The 2024/25 season was a tough one for Leicester City. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s appointment, done early in the season as a replacement for Steve Cooper, was a failure, the Dutchman failing to guide the Foxes away from the bottom three as they made an immediate return to the second tier of English football.
One of their few bright sparks was Bilal El Khannouss, signed from Genk in the summer. Just 21 years of age, the Moroccan international was often Leicester’s only consistent output going forward, even if his numbers from the campaign do not fairly reflect his quality.
GIVEMESPORT exclusively revealed that West Ham could step up their interest in El Khannouss in the coming days, a move that would be perfect for the Hammers. Alongside Jarrod Bowen, El Khannouss would be an ideal creative outlet, a player with dynamism and flair to support the likes of Niclas Fullkrug and Wilson in attack.
Dubbed a "magician," El Khannouss had a release clause of £22.5 million in his contract, though reports have suggested that this has since expired. It is unclear whether the playmaker, who other clubs are keen on, would be interested in a move to the London Stadium but unless they have been explicitly told not to, West Ham must do all they can to sign the 21-year-old.
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