Leicester City are on the verge of finalizing a 25 million euro transfer deal for Moroccan attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss from Belgian club Genk, according to reports.
Steve Cooper, the club’s newly appointed manager, is reportedly keen to finalize the transfer, with a meeting scheduled with director of football Jon Rudkin.
Although Cooper refrained from commenting directly on El Khannouss, he stressed the importance of squad enhancements. “I’ve stayed away from everything outside of the matchday,” Cooper said when asked about the potential deal. “I’m due to go and speak to the recruitment team and Jon to see if there are any updates on players leaving or coming in.”
El Khannouss, who has made a significant impact at Genk over the past two seasons, is anticipated to strengthen Leicester’s attacking options. Last season, the 20-year-old contributed eight assists and was noted for his progressive passing and key deliveries into the penalty area.
The midfielder’s potential arrival could address Leicester’s current shortage in the number 10 role. Additionally, the club is rumored to be in the market for a striker before the transfer window closes.
Despite earlier interest in Panathinaikos’s Fotis Ioannidis, budget constraints may pose a challenge. Leicester may need to exceed their previous £25 million bid to secure Ioannidis amid competition from other European clubs.