Leeds United have been linked to Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss in recent weeks, with the attacking midfielder an option the 49ers are considering.
Bilal El Khannouss is a target for Leeds United, and the Leicester playmaker could replace Brenden Aaronson, as was stated earlier this summer.
The problem is that Crystal Palace are said to be interested in El Khannouss. Interest appears to be mounting with Sunderland also said to be keen on El Khannouss in the transfer window.
Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen like El Khannouss, with the 21-year-old having bags of potential, and continuing to impress in spite of Leicester’s relegation.
It’s also reported that El Khannouss would cost Leeds around £22 million due to a release clause in his deal, per some claims. El Khannouss’ wage demands would not be an issue, either.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty ImagesAbdul Fatawu should also be on Leeds’ transfer shortlist with Bilal El Khannouss
It’s said that Leeds held a meeting with El Khannouss’ camp last Wednesday in a bid to thrash out a deal. It is claimed that Leeds have informed El Khannouss’ representatives they will pay a clause closer to £24.5 million in his contract.
What is certain is that El Khannouss is a strong consideration, although many Leeds fans are concerned by El Khannouss links due to his lack of goal involvements last year. That’s despite the playmaker’s obvious technical ability.
El Khannouss was part of our dream Leeds XI earlier in the summer and Ruud van Nistelrooy believes El Khannouss has Champions League potential, while legendary Man City boss Pep Guardiola is a fan of El Khannouss.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
El Khannouss was part of Leicester’s pre-season game on Sunday alongside other recently relegated stars for the Foxes, and perhaps another should be on Leeds’ radar. Leeds want a winger and attacking midfielder, and Leicester have one of each.
Daniel Farke detailed the need for attacking players next, with Abdul Fatawu perhaps a player who should be on Leeds’ radar. That’s because the 21-year-old is a winger with real pace and end product, while also helping to rebalance Leeds’ attack.
That’s because Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani are both better-suited to playing at angles from the left flank, much like Igor Paixao. Signing the Feyenoord winger would have meant Dan James was the club’s only out-and-out right winger.
Paixao may well be a more rounded attacking threat than Gnonto and Ramazani, but Fatawu is a right winger who is left-footed. Leeds simply don’t have a left-footed player out wide.
Signing Paixao would have meant Gnonto and James fighting for minutes down Leeds’ right, but the addition of Fatawu actually makes more sense, if Leeds can confirm a double swoop with Leicester for El Khannouss.
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
A retooling of the attack is underway and essential, and Fatawu’s potential is enormous. He is a similar type of winger outlet to Paixao, as shown from his goal and assist numbers. An ACL injury early last season is why he has seldom featured of late.
That could make him more affordable and talk surrounding a move elsewhere has since gone quiet now, but TBR Football have previously reported on interest in his services from Crystal Palace.
The right-winger is highly-rated, and has been hailed a ‘great talent‘ by former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim and also is ‘very fast‘. These are the exact types of thing you want to hear about a young winger.
It doesn’t appear that he has lost any explosivity post-ACL, either. That should entice Leeds even more into signing the 21-year-old as well as El Khannouss.