Leicester City transfer swoop for 8-cap international hinges on Bilal El Khannouss decision | OneFootball

The Moroccan has a big role to play in Leicester's end to the transfer window.

Leicester City will only pursue Feyenoord attacking midfielder Calvin Stengs if Bilal El Khannouss leaves the club.

A summer of little activity, at least with regard to players coming through the doors of the King Power Stadium, has been caused by the club's poor standing on the Profit & Sustainability rules - so bad is it that they could receive a points deduction at some point this season for breaking those rules in the past.

As a result, selling before buying was always going to be necessary. A good number of players have already left the club, with full-back James Justin being the most recent one - newly-promoted Leeds United have signed him for £10 million.

There's plenty of scope for more to follow, including El Khannouss - one of Leicester's most highly sought-after assets of the summer.

Leicester City's Calvin Stengs move depends on Bilal El Khannouss' future

A number of Premier League clubs have been linked with the Moroccan creative midfielder since City were relegated, which made a £26 million release clause in the 21-year-old's contract active - one which has now expired.

Crystal Palace have agreed a deal worth £32 million for El Khannouss, according to Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett, but they are yet to fully commit to the move.

Should the former KRC Genk player depart Leicester this summer, only a year or so on from his move from Belgium to the East Midlands, they may look to bring in Stengs as his replacement.

Feyenoord's 26-year-old creative midifelder is a target for a number of European teams this summer, just like El Khannouss. Scottish champions Celtic and Italian outfit Pisa are on the list of interested parties that also includes Leicester, as per Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

Crucially, though, one deal will not happen without the other. Unless El Khannouss is sold before the 7pm transfer deadline on the 1st of September, the Foxes will not advance their pursuit of Stengs, per Joseph.

Missing out on Calvin Stengs wouldn't be all that bad for Leicester City

The former Netherlands international - who has eight caps to his name - hasn't seen any competitive minutes this season under Robin van Persie.

He appeared on the bench for the club's Champions League qualification matches against Fenerbahce, and in Feyenoord's first couple of league contests, but clearly appears to be out of favour.

This comes after a season that was heavily interrupted by injuries for Stengs. He only made a dozen Eredivisie appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring once and assisting on three occasions.

It was the 2023/24 season, when he racked up 18 combined league goals and assists, that raised his profile in European football, and it would be what Leicester would bank on him recreating under Marti Cifuentes. But that by no means is a guarantee that he'll be able to get back to that level, and that's if he even makes it to the Championship.