Bilal El Khannouss shines for Foxes amid top flight interest | OneFootball

Newcastle United have joined the race to sign Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss who shone in his first Championship appearance.

The former Genk man joined the Foxes in the summer of 2024 and was one of the bright spots in a season that saw the team relegated back to the second tier.

Understandably, El Khannouss retained interest from Premier League sides with Leeds United strongly linked to the 21-year-old although they now face competition from the Magpies according to reports.

The Morocco international starred for his team in the 2-1 comeback win at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

El Khannouss had a shot fizz just wide early in the first half and in the second put in two set-piece deliveries that resulted in goals. The first was a clever low free-kick that fell to defender Jannik Vestergaard to finish before setting up an 87th-minute winner with his corner that Wout Faes headed home.

It could have been 3-1 after El Khannouss showed his excellent close control before firing his shot past goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

No other player across the Championship made as many key passes (four) as El Khannouss during the first match week while the Moroccan made 44 successful passes, something only defenders Vestergaard and Caleb Okoli bettered at the King Power Stadium.

Indeed, Vestergaard was the only player to see more of the ball than El Khannouss with 86 touches compared to his teammate's 85.

It was a well-earned spot in the Championship Team of the Week and it was the kind of performance that will only increase interest in the player and perhaps help the Foxes increase the price tag.