One name who has been on Leeds United’s transfer radar for the past several months is Manchester City’s James McAtee, but Daniel Farke may have just identified an alternative.
Even going back to the last summer transfer window, James McAtee has been linked with a move to Leeds United.
But it was the January transfer window where Leeds United tried hard to sign McAtee, though Pep Guardiola kept him at Manchester City where he featured just 15 times in the Premier League last season, scoring three goals.
This summer, McAtee chose to play for England under-21s in the Euro competition, snubbing the chance to play for Manchester City in a Club World Cup.
McAtee said he has no regrets over his decision and now looks set to leave Manchester City with interest building in the 22-year-old.
For Leeds United, McAtee remains an ambitious transfer target. There are top Bundesliga clubs interested in McAtee, as well as multiple Premier League clubs in the race such as Everton, and Nottingham Forest who were readying a £25m bid for McAtee per previous reports.
Instead, Leeds United could well turn to the Championship and to Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss this summer.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty ImagesLeeds United join race to sign Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss
Belgian-born Moroccan international El Khannouss joined Leicester City from Genk in 2024. The Foxes paid a rumoured £21m fee to sign the 21-year-old, who played 32 times in the Premier League last season, scoring twice and assisting three more.
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Now, an emerging report from The Athletic has revealed that El Khannouss is a transfer target for Leeds United this summer, as Daniel Farke’s search for a new number 10 continues. However, Beren Cross writes that El Khannouss has been assessed but is not an active target at this point.
The young midfielder has a growing list of Premier League suitors, with the likes of West Ham and Everton also interested, amid reports that he has a £22.5m release clause at Leicester this summer.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty ImagesJames McAtee v Bilal El Khannouss, who’s the better fit for Leeds United?
Both players are good, and proven in the Premier League: albeit McAtee has only ever been a bit part player for Man City, whilst El Khannouss has had one season in a terrible Leicester City side.
And it’s no secret that Man City boss Pep Guardiola is fond of McAtee. It’s also no secret that he rates El Khannouss. Speaking last season, the Leicester City man revealed that Pep privately told him he was impressed with his performance despite a 4-0 Leicester defeat against City back in December.
El Khannouss said: “He (Guardiola) said he was impressed by my play today. I am not. I know myself and this is the player I can be. I have to show that every week now.”
McAtee would certainly add more experience and guaranteed quality to the Leeds side, whilst El Khannouss would arrive with more momentum, and he could yet have as much potential as McAtee given another season in the Premier League.
Both could cost around the same amount, both are similar ages. But both have plenty of other suitors and right now it looks like neither are Elland Road-bound.