£35m claim dropped on "Champions League-level" Leicester City star as Leeds United plot deal | OneFootball

FLW's Leicester City fan pundit feels that Bilal El Khannouss has a higher ceiling than those who have departed the King Power Stadium in the past.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Bilal El Khannouss was one of the standout players in what was an incredibly disappointing return to the Premier League for Leicester City last season.

The Moroccan international lived up to his £21 million price tag in the top flight, which the Foxes met to bring him to England from Belgian side Genk, but now comes into the new Championship season as one of the most talked-about players in the division.

Not only for the quality he can bring to the Leicester side in the opening stages of the season, but also whether he's actually still going to be at The King Power Stadium come their season opener against Sheffield Wednesday on August 10th.

Surprisingly, there were reports earlier this month that the 21-year-old has a £22.5 million relegation release clause, which worried Foxes fans as this meant that the club were in a position to make minimal profit on the exciting midfielder, but the logistics of that remain up in the air.

Leicester City handed Bilal El Khannouss price tag claim

FLW's Leicester fan pundit, Louchlainn Martin, believes that the club will be holding out for a higher fee.

Martin has weighed in on what that fee should be, as he feels that El Khannouss has serious top-level potential, and believes that it has been "difficult for Leicester fans to put a value on El Khannouss this summer," due to complications and confusion surrounding the Moroccan's potential relegation release clause.

"There were initial rumours earlier in the summer that he had a relegation release clause which sent Leicester fans into panic," he said.

"It was rumoured to be around £20-25 million. We bought the lad for around £20 million, so it meant that we weren't going to make a profit, which was a concern.

"Reports have since suggested that there isn't a release clause, as it's said that we'd demand a significant fee, so it's all a bit unclear."

Martin, like many Foxes fans, hopes that a release clause hasn't been put into the 21-year-old's contract, especially one which would see practically no profit made on him.

"Let's go on the basis that there isn't one," he continued. "I think Leicester should be looking at around £35m for him. I would say £40-45 million if we were still a Premier League team, but obviously we are now in the Championship.

"Spurs, Palace, Newcastle, Leeds, all being admirers, I would be surprised if he was here come the start of the season, and if he is, I'd expect that he'd leave by the end of the window."

If El Khannouss is to depart The King Power Stadium this summer, Martin hopes that it is done sooner rather than later, so the club can focus on who they have and use some money to reinvest.

"Leicester should move him on quickly, so our squad isn't unsettled when the season starts."

Bold top-level claim made on Bilal El Khannouss

Last season, El-Khannouss managed two goals and three assists in a struggling Leicester side.

It doesn't look too exciting on paper, but the 21-year-old showed signs of excellence and was one of the more well-rounded attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

Martin said, "I think he's an excellent player, can play deep and high, and there was a lot of talk among Leicester fans last season about whether he could play in the eight, or even the six - I know he's done some bits there for Morocco."

Understandably, El Khannouss is being compared to the likes of James Maddison and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, two midfielders who Leicester have sold in each of the last two summer transfer windows.

Both Maddison and Dewsbury-Hall have enjoyed European success at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, respectively, and Martin feels that the exciting Moroccan can not only hit the heights of the former Leicester midfielders, but exceed them.

"I'd say that El Khannouss has a higher ceiling than the likes of Dewsbury-Hall and Maddison," he said.

"£35 million for El Khannouss is a fair price, and one that would be a snip for any Premier League side, not only because they can afford him, but because his ceiling is so high.