Three new clubs have entered the race to sign Bilal El Khannouss, with Sunderland reportedly making a move for the Leicester City attacking midfielder.
According to L’Équipe, the newly-promoted Premier League side are keen on the Moroccan international and have taken early steps in the transfer pursuit, giving them an advantage over rival suitors.
West Ham and Monaco are also showing interest, with the Ligue 1 club monitoring El Khannouss as a potential replacement should one of their attacking players depart.
A summer exit appears likely for the 21-year-old, who impressed during Leicester’s relegation campaign and showcased his top-tier potential.
Following their drop to the Championship, Leicester are under financial pressure to balance their books, and selling El Khannouss could provide a valuable boost. The midfielder joined for £20 million on a four-year deal last summer, and any sale exceeding £15 million would register as profit under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Although he had a slow start after arriving from Genk, El Khannouss became a standout performer under Ruud van Nistelrooy, starting every Premier League match under the Dutch coach apart from the final-day loss to Bournemouth. He finished the season with three goals and five assists, including a memorable winner against Tottenham.
Leicester also have other options in the number 10 role, including Jordan Ayew, academy graduate Will Alves — who has played more on the wing recently — and rising 17-year-old talent Louis Page, who tends to play as a box-to-box midfielder.
El Khannouss returned to action on Saturday in a pre-season friendly against OH Leuven, featuring in the final 60-minute period of a 2-1 win. He is expected to be part of Leicester’s squad heading to Austria on Wednesday.
Leave a Reply