Leeds United recently enquired to sign Leicester City attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss this summer, but sales of James Justin to Elland Road and Kasey McAteer to Ipswich leave the Foxes in a strong position.
The priority is clear now for Daniel Farke, but there is very little time for United to make the attacking addition(s) that he requires.
Creativity was in desperately short supply against Sheffield Wednesday until right-back Jayden Bogle entered the pitch, and it outlines the issues that Leeds must rectify before 7pm on Monday.
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Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss, PSR stance strengthened as Leeds United sign James Justin
Of the names Leeds have explored to reinforce their attacking midfield options, Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss has been one of the key names to emerge publicly.
An enquiry was lodged earlier in the summer, but Leeds seemingly haven’t gone further than that with the Foxes kickstarting their promotion bid back in the Championship – El Khannouss already off the mark with two assists.
Having seen his release clause expire, Leicester’s position was further strengthened on their Moroccan star thanks to two notable sales, one of those being Leeds’ capture of full-back James Justin for £8million plus add-ons.
(Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
Now, Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett reveals that sales of Justin and Kasey McAteer to Ipswich Town mean that it’s going to take a huge offer of £35million to prise El Khannouss from the King Power Stadium:
I’m told #cpfc deal for #lcfc forward Bilal El Khannouss has collapsed. Leicester no longer need to sell to satisfy PSR, having sold James Justin to #lufc and Kasey McAteer to #itfc. Would now take £35m to prise him away, and Palace won’t pay that.
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) August 26, 2025
An issue for Leeds, even if they were willing to pay such a sum, is that Saudi Arabian clubs have now entered the equation, according to Sacha Tavolieri.
El Khannouss has expressed his desire to leave the Championship club, but Leicester’s currently recovered PSR standing allows them to negotiate on their terms.
Bilal El Khannouss surely out of reach for Leeds United now
El Khannouss would have been a seriously good signing in attacking midfield for Leeds, but this asking price makes it one that we won’t be doing.
Leicester have done very well to hold onto him this long and if they keep him for the rest of the season, they’re giving themselves a superb chance of promotion.
Where Leeds are concerned, there is very little time to dwell on any potential setbacks like this, so pushing through with top targets has to happen fast.
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