Crystal Palace are closing in on a Leicester City attacker - but Wolves should hijack the deal.
The summer transfer window is hotting up now there are just two weeks to go until the September 1 deadline, with Premier League clubs up and down the country eager to get their squads in the best possible shape for the rest of the new season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers began the 2025/26 campaign with a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Manchester City, exposing a host of weaknesses that need addressing. Vitor Pereira rather candidly demanded action from Wolves’ owners as his side’s defensive frailties and lack of creative nous were laid bare by the Cityzens at Molineux.
Which positions do Wolves need to target to become more competitive, then? Well, Jhon Arias and David Moller Wolfe have already been signed as replacements for Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri but Wanderers could really do with more depth and quality in both defence and attack.
To address the lack of forward cover, Wolves are understood to be in the market for a new versatile attacking midfielder. Another striker is desired to compete with Jorgen Strand Larsen but a priority is to sign a number 10 who can also play on either flank if required.
Wolves should hijack £25m Crystal Palace swoop
The Old Gold could find exactly the profile they are looking for by going shopping at Championship club Leicester City, Birmingham World believes. Premier League rivals Crystal Palace are reportedly attempting to sign Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss as a replacement for Tottenham Hotspur-bound Eberechi Eze, but Wolves could swoop in to hijack.
Sky Sport Switzerland reports Palace are in ‘advanced talks’ with Leicester to sign El Khannouss but are reaching a crucial moment as several bids - one in the region of £25 million - have already been rejected. A meeting between Palace and Leicester is set to be held today (August 18) and it could be decisive in where El Khannouss ends up.
Wolves should move quickly to try and interject as El Khannouss could be the perfect reinforcement for Pereira. The 22-time Morocco international may have contributed just three goals and two assists during his debut Premier League season but he looked a tricky customer.
Among fellow attacking midfielders, El Khannouss ranked in the top 25 per cent for successful passes (767), chances created (42), accurate long balls (57), successful crosses (18) and dribble success (59.6%). El Khannouss, still only 21 years of age, managed to rack up those figures in just 2,193 minutes of action.
How would El Khannouss fit in at Wolves?
If Wolves were to swoop in and beat Palace to El Khannouss’ services, the Moroccan would surely be in contention to start right away. In Pereira’s 3-4-3 system, El Khannouss could play on either side of Strand Larsen and cut in from wide, causing problems for defenders with his quick feet.
Competition is fierce with the likes of Jhon Arias, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Marshall Munetsi, Fer Lopez, Rodrigo Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan all fighting for the same roles but El Khannouss would surely enter high up in the pecking order. There are some decent dribblers in that list of options but the skilful El Khannouss would back himself against them all.
Continue Reading