Kicker reports that VfB Stuttgart attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss could emerge as a late transfer candidate for several Premier League clubs. The German magazine claims that Newcastle United have already made an enquiry regarding the 22-year-old Moroccan international. Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are also being linked with El Khannouss as the summer transfer window enters its final days.
Stuttgart are not actively attempting to sell El Khannouss, but would reportedly consider allowing him to leave should an appropriate offer arrive and the destination appeal to the player. Kicker suggests that the Bundesliga club would use a figure above €40m as the basis for negotiations. El Khannouss only completed his permanent move to Stuttgart earlier this year.
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VfB initially paid Leicester City approximately €5m to take the midfielder on loan before a contractual purchase obligation worth another €18m was triggered. To interested Premier League parties, Khannouss brings with him the experience of 32 EPL deployments with the foxes during the 2024/25 campaign.
El Khannouss one of Stuttgart’s 2025 deadline-day additions
The Moroccan arrived during the frenetic conclusion to last summer’s transfer window alongside Algerian attacker Badredine Bouanani. Both North African internationals served as Stuttgart’s major deadline-day attacking reinforcements following Nick Woltemade’s departure and Deniz Undav’s injury. El Khannouss arrived from Leicester while Bouanani joined from OGC Nice.
The two players now remarkably find their futures uncertain barely one year later.
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El Khannouss enjoyed an excellent first half of the campaign before struggling for consistency following his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations. Sebastian Hoeneß subsequently dropped the technically gifted playmaker on several occasions, most notably leaving him out of the starting XI for May’s 3-0 DFB-Pokal final defeat to Bayern Munich. Kicker reports that El Khannouss viewed the latter decision as a slight.
The situation nevertheless remains far from an inevitable separation. Get German Football News’ 2026/27 VfB Stuttgart tactical preview still identified El Khannouss as one of the squad’s most technically gifted creators amid Hoeneß’ extraordinarily deep collection of attacking options. An injury to Chris Führich could even hand the Moroccan a starting berth against Bayern in Stuttgart’s Bundesliga opener.
Bouanani finds himself further down the pecking order. Competition from Führich, Jamie Leweling, Tiago Tomás and new arrival Leo Sauer leaves regular minutes difficult to obtain, with Stuttgart consequently favouring a loan for the 21-year-old.
El Khannouss carries significantly greater market potential. Newcastle have already asked the question. Several other Premier League clubs may yet do the same before the window closes.
GGFN | Peter Weis
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