Bilal El Khannouss is at the centre of a transfer battle between Leeds United, Crystal Palace, and potentially some more clubs in the near future.
It looks as though Bilal El Khannouss is set to steal a move away from Leicester City in what is left of the summer transfer window. The Moroccan international is wanted by Leeds United and Crystal Palace, though it looks as though the latter are leading the race right now.
Recent reports have revealed Crystal Palace are stepping up talks to sign El Khannouss with Eagles star man Ebere Eze close to joining Arsenal in a deal worth up to £70m.
Leeds United are still in search of attacking signings, predominantly an attacking midfielder is wanted. But on Thursday, Leeds announced the signing of Noah Okafor from AC Milan, who can operate across the front line, and so whether or not Leeds push the boat out to sign El Khannouss remains to be seen.
Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester City.
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Leicester City boss speaks out on Bilal El Khannouss transfer interest
There is also the possibility that El Khannouss remains at Leicester City. Recently, El Khannouss’ release clause at Leicester City expired and now the Foxes are understood to be commanding up to £30 million for the 21-year-old.
Amid this growing transfer speculation, Foxes boss Marti Cifuentes has spoken to the press and given an indication as to what the situation is with El Khannouss. A tight-lipped Cifuentes told Leicestershire Live: “There’s going to be a lot of speculation and a lot of rumours about our players because they are good players, so I’m not surprised.
“That’s the reality, at this stage of the window especially. It’s 10 days left and I assume there’s going to be a lot of speculation.
“The reality is that Bilal is with us and he’s a very good player. It’s normal, this speculation, and I will not comment much on that.”
The official club badge of Crystal Palace.
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The Leeds United Club Badge
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Leeds United’s no.1 search is boiling down to one player, it’s not Bilal El Khannouss
As time goes by and more and more players either look set to stay at their current clubs or move elsewhere, it looks as though Leeds’ search for a new no.10 is boiling down to one player in Facundo Buonanotte.
With Palace seemingly leading the race for El Khannouss, it takes one player off of Leeds United’s four-man shortlist for the no.10 position. The other names on said list are Emi Buendia, Gustavo Hamer, and Buonanotte.
But despite having been linked with a move away from Villa Park throughout the year, it looks as though Buendia has played himself back into contention at Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Hamer will only leave Sheffield United for PSV this summer, with the Dutchman seemingly uninterested in moving to Leeds. So it could be that Buonanotte arrives at Elland Road before the September 1st transfer deadline.
It would be another decent signing for Farke, though whether he wants another attacker and whether he can afford another one, as expensive as Buonanotte, remains to be seen.