Leeds United’s pursuit of new signings this summer could see them raid the same side twice in the next few weeks, with Leicester City the potential victims of Leeds’ transfer raid.
Leeds are still eight days away from opening their Premier League campaign, when they welcome Everton to Elland Road. It will be the final match of the Premier League’s first weekend back, under the lights.
But for Championship clubs, things got underway this weekend. The highlight of the weekend so far, the 4-1 hammering of Sheffield United by Bristol City at Bramall Lane as Gerhard Struber started perfectly.
Leicester were in action against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, in a game that had plenty of story off the pitch. There was just as much on the pitch on Sunday, as Leicester left it late to secure a 2-1 victory.
Bilal El Khannouss and James Justin start in Leicester City win
El Khannouss has been widely touted as a target for Leeds. A meeting has been held between Leeds and El Khannouss’ camp, in which Leeds informed his agents they would pay the £24.5m clause in his deal.
Nothing has materialised, though Graham Smyth confirms El Khannouss would be keen on a move to Leeds. Meanwhile, Leeds are also said to be considering James Justin as a replacement for Isaac Schmidt.
Schmidt’s performance against Milan was further proof he needs replacing. Justin is said to be a £6m target for Leeds, with the England international wearing the captain’s armband on Sunday afternoon.
Sheffield Wednesday suffer late defeat to Bilal El Khannouss’ Leicester
The off-field drama at Sheffield Wednesday was expected to impact the Owls as they stepped onto the pitch this season, especially with their first opponents being the 23-24 Championship title winners, away.
Yet, they came within an inch of a point as Nathaniel Chalobah opened the scoring. Leicester equalised in the second half through Jannik Vestergaard, before Barry Bannan was sent off for a second yellow card.
New manager Marti Cifuentes made changes to his Leicester side after the red card and the Foxes left it late, but got the job done. Belgium defender Wout Faes scored a winner for Leicester in the 88th minute.
Typically, it was El Khannouss who laid on the assists. His unusually low free-kick took the Wednesday defenders by surprise for the first goal, Vestergaard sorting out his feet before blasting into the net.
It was Morocco star El Khannouss who unlocked the Wednesday defence for Leicester’s winner, too. His corner headed in by Faes to break Wednesday’s hearts. Leeds onlookers will have been impressed.
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