Leeds United have pressed the accelerator in their efforts to add more creativity and goals to their squad ahead of the start of the Premier League season. The Whites are now focused on bringing in the attacking targets to bolster their goalscoring options.
The Whites have spent a shade over £75m on seven new players this summer. However, six of those players are defenders and midfielders, and only Lukas Nmecha, who arrived on a free transfer earlier in the window, is an attacking option. Leeds want to change that in the coming weeks.
After failing to convince Igor Paixao to move to Elland Road, the Yorkshire giants have pivoted. They are now in talks with Leicester City attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, who has a £24.5m release clause in his contract.
Leeds had a meeting with the player’s camp on Wednesday, and made it clear to them that the club are prepared to pay the release clause and all the associated costs needed to sign him from Leicester City this summer.
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Leeds United want Bilal El Khannouss, but he also has Saudi suitors
Leeds are pushing hard to secure the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who was one of the bright lights of a poor Leicester side that got relegated from the Premier League last season.
The Whites are willing to pay the money needed to snare El Khannouss away from the King Power Stadium and are waiting for him to make up his mind.
However, the £24.5m release clause has been noted by other clubs as well, and according to journalist Ben Jacobs, he has suitors in Saudi Arabia as well.
Saudi Pro League clubs see value in signing the Moroccan attacking midfielder at that price, and are interested in conversations with the player.
Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig are also interested, but they are yet to make any concrete offers to sign El Khannouss thus far.
Leeds have had concrete conversations with the player’s camp and are hopeful that the midfielder will agree to move to Elland Road this summer.
However, interest from Saudi Arabia could still hijack their pursuit, and Leeds must remain wary of it.
His release clause has a time limit
Leicester do not want to sell El Khannouss, but the moment they were relegated from the Premier League, the £24.5m release clause became active.
Leeds are pushing hard, and believe they have a great chance to sign a talented young attacking midfielder for a reasonable fee because of the clause.
However, the release clause is only active until 15th August, so the player must make up his mind soon and choose his destination in the next two weeks.
Leeds would not want to sit at the negotiating table with Leicester, who would have likely demanded a bigger fee if there was no release clause.
