Key Leicester City attracting transfer interest as news of "reasonable" release clause emerges | OneFootball

Leicester City's relegation has led to uncertainty over Bilal El Khannouuss' future at the club

Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss has a release clause in his contract amid speculation over his future at the club.

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, confirmation of the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship is set to impact the future of the Moroccan playmaker.

El Khannouss joined Leicester in the summer, signing from Genk in a deal worth a reported £21 million, as per the BBC.

The 20-year-old has featured 28 times in the English top flight so far this season, contributing two goals and two assists, but with City now officially heading back to the Championship, it looks like his stay in the East Midlands may be short.

Bilal El Khannouss’ Leicester City future in doubt following Premier League relegation

El Khannouss is reportedly already attracting interest from other clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.

It’s understood that the door is now open to a potential exit from the King Power Stadum, with a release clause agreed as part of his contract.

It remains to be seen what fee this clause has been set at, but relegation from the Premier League could now accelerate his departure just 12 months after signing from Genk.

It was reported earlier this month by Spanish outlet Fichajes that Arsenal are weighing up a move for the playmaker.

It was claimed that a €35 million (£30 million) offer was being prepared, but no official bids have yet been submitted for the youngster, who has a Leicester contract until the summer of 2028.

El Khannouss sale would sting for Leicester City, but it may be necessary to balance the books

El Khannouss was one of Leicester’s big bets in the summer, and the deal hasn’t worked out for them just yet, despite his flashes of quality.

The £21 million player has just two goals and two assists in the league, and has been part of a side that has struggled on the whole, but is still only 20 and time is on his side.

A year in the Championship could potentially be quite good for his development, and the Foxes likely bought him with that in mind.

But his departure would leave them short of a creative outlet, and they will have little control over his future due to this release clause in his contract - the fact that they may need to balance the books this summer too could see Leicester potentially happy to get a big fee for his services.