Leeds United are in search of yet another midfielder this summer, despite the additions of Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach already.
Brenden Aaronson is the only attacking midfielder at the club, unless Daniel Farke deploys someone like Ao Tanaka in a more advanced midfield role for Leeds United.
| Season | Appearances | Starts | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
| 2022/23 (Premier League | 36 | 28 | 2383 | 1 | 3 |
| 2024/25 (Championship) | 46 | 43 | 3572 | 9 | 2 |
Aaronson’s overall stats for Leeds are underwhelming, which is perhaps why serious interest from Leeds in Bilal El Khannouss has since emerged in the last week.
The Leicester City ace has spent just one season with the club, with El Khannouss signed from Belgian side Genk for £21 million last summer following their promotion to the Premier League.
Crystal Palace eye Leeds target Bilal El Khannouss
El Khannouss was part of our dream Leeds XI earlier in the summer, albeit most of the options named have headed elsewhere or not emerged as serious targets.
Similarly, El Khanouss was named as someone who could replace Aaronson earlier this summer. That’s still a possibility for Leeds, even if they have not yet stepped up interest.
El Khannouss is an exciting player, even if his numbers for goals and assists don’t yet jump off the page. Leicester had a dismal season and his quality is undeniable in spite of that.
| Team | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| KRC Genk | 94 | 4 | 14 |
| Leicester City | 36 | 3 | 5 |
| Morocco | 22 | 1 | 2 |
El Khannouss would cost Leeds around £22 million, due to a release clause in his deal and there is no doubt that he could explode into being a much better player than what he showed last term.
However, Crystal Palace have now joined the race as well. Sacha Tavolieri explains the latest on the situation regarding the FA Cup champions and the Leicester midfielder.
He states that Palace have placed El Khannouss on their shortlist to replace Eberechi Eze if the England international moves on. Not only that, but El Khannouss is also on RB Leipzig’s shortlist if they sell Xavi Simons, having been long-term admirers.
Bilal El Khannouss is also an excellent set-piece taker
The 21-year-old is many years off his peak. But his combination of vision, ball-carrying, and his propensity to shoot on sight all make him an intriguing prospect.
However, for Leeds, his main asset could be his set-piece ability. That alone is worth buying after Joe Rothwell’s loan spell ended.
Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach have taken them in the past, but they are ideally in the box and on the end of things rather than taking them.
Ilia Gruev, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Jack Harrison can all take them left-footed, but not anywhere near as well as El Khannouss does consistently with his right peg.
That being said, Igor Paixao is a right-footed set-piece taker, which is why Leeds are also desperate to sign him from Feyenoord. Either player would unlock their threat from those situations.
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