Crystal Palace will not be securing the services of 21-year-old Moroccan midfielder Bilal El Khannouss from Championship side Leicester City in this summer’s transfer market.
As reported by Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett, the young playmaker has been on Crystal Palace’s radar in recent weeks. The Eagles have been looking to strengthen their creative options after losing Eberechi Eze, and the Leicester City talent was considered a prime candidate to fill that void at Selhurst Park.
But any potential switch for the African star has now collapsed, with Leicester raising their demands. The Foxes no longer face immediate pressure to sell players following the exits of James Justin and Kasey McAteer, which helped balance their books for PSR. As a result, they are now holding out for £35 million, a figure Palace are unwilling to pay.
Since his arrival from KRC Genk last summer, Bilal El Khannouss has made steady progress at Leicester. While his output has not always matched expectations, he has been an influential figure in the final third. The new season has also started brightly, with the youngster providing two assists in his first two Championship appearances.
So far, the Moroccan international has featured nearly 50 times for Leicester City, registering three goals and seven assists. His development has naturally attracted Premier League interest, with Crystal Palace one of several sides monitoring his situation during the summer.
Palace’s pursuit of El Khannouss made sense given their need for a creative option after Eze’s departure. The England international sealed a move to Arsenal, leaving Oliver Glasner with a big attacking gap to address in his squad.
That made the 21-year-old Leicester midfielder one of the club’s main targets, and reports suggested he was open to making the switch. However, Palace supporters have now been dealt a blow with news that the move has collapsed due to the Foxes’ higher valuation.
Earlier speculation indicated that Palace could land El Khannouss for around £32 million. But Leicester’s revised asking price of £35 million has changed the situation, forcing the Eagles to turn to alternatives in the market.
The focus has now shifted to Villarreal’s Yeremy Pino, with the Spanish winger expected to complete a move to Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace aim to strengthen their attack before the window closes.
