Leeds United have a clear and serious interest in Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss, with the 49ers looking for attacking additions to round out the transfer window.
Bilal El Khannouss is a target for Leeds United, and the Leicester playmaker could replace Brenden Aaronson as Daniel Farke’s attacking midfielder this summer.
It’s also been reported that El Khannouss would cost Leeds around £22 million due to a release clause in his deal. El Khannouss’ wage demands would not be an issue, either. In recent days, Beren Cross says Leeds’ interest in the Leicester ace is maintained.
Nothing has yet materialised but new information is revealed all the time. Spurs are monitoring El Khannouss’ situation, with Son Heung-min heading for an exit. However, Sunderland are also said to be keen on El Khannouss in the transfer window.
Bilal El Khannouss situation with Leeds and Crystal Palace
Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen also like El Khannouss, with the 21-year-old catching the eye despite relegation. None of them seem advanced at this stage, however. It’s claimed that Leeds have made a ‘formal enquiry’ for El Khannouss and are the only team to do so.
El Khannouss was part of our dream Leeds XI earlier in the summer and now interest is seriously ramping up as it was said Leeds held a meeting with El Khannouss’ camp last Wednesday in a bid to thrash out a deal.
Although Leeds fans are concerned by El Khannouss links due to his lack of goal involvements last year, the playmaker is in demand and has obvious technical ability. Interestingly, El Khannouss was part of Leicester’s pre-season game on Sunday.
The other club with the strongest interest in the player appears to be Crystal Palace who like El Khannouss and see him as a potential Eberechi Eze replacement.
Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sports Switzerland has revealed playing in European competitions is not a decisive factor in El Khannouss’ decision over which club to join next.
He also claims that Leeds have scheduled a meeting with the player in the coming days, but also that Crystal Palace could make a move for him. However, that is depending on departures in the next week.
What Pep Guardiola said to El Khannouss and Ruud van Nistelrooy’s verdict
Pep Guardiola has been impressed with El Khannouss. The Moroccan 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.”
Former Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy rates El Khannouss highly as well. The Dutchman spoke in a press conference in February 2025:
He said: “I think you’re going to see a lot more of him with his age and profile. With his work rate in training, he’s improving on a daily basis.
“The challenge for him is, at his young age, pushing himself to finally know where his ceiling is. His potential is there to be a top player in Europe in the Champions League, I think that’s where his potential is.”
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