Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace have both walked away from a deal for a Championship star over transfer fee demands
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Leicester City player Bilal El Khannouss is reportedly closing in on a move to VfB Stuttgart after both Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur backed out of a deal for the player.
According to Football Insider, the Foxes are anticipating the player’s exit before the 7pm transfer deadline. He has been the subject of a £26m bid from the Bundesliga side while last week it was reported by the same outlet that Leeds United were ready to “accelerate” their interest in the player.
The same report notes how Palace backed out of a deal after Leicester raised his valuation to £35m. Amid the report of a £26m offer, Sky Sports Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri has reported that the forward is close to joining Stuttgart.
He said on X: “Bilal El Khannouss set to become a VfB Stuttgart player! The Moroccan's set to fly in the coming hours to Germany in order to undergo his medical tests.
“Leicester City & VfB are currently fixing the last details right now. Four year deal.”
Crystal Palace and Tottenham backed out of Bilal El Khannouss transfer
Speaking on the Football Insider, Inside Track podcast, Pete O’Rourke said last week: “There’ll be other clubs looking at El Khannouss between now and the end of the window
“He looked like was heading for Selhurst Park, El Khannouss – talks were advanced between both clubs, but the deal since has fallen through.
“Leicester are expecting further interest in the player and they’ll find it hard to keep hold of him between now and the end of the window.
“The player himself wants to play at the highest level, rather than in the Championship.”
A report from TBR Football last week claimed that Palace had even managed to agree a fee in the region of £32m. The same report said that both the Eagles and their London rivals Tottenham stepped away from a deal as Leicester hiked the price up to £40m.
They believed a move to Saudi Arabia could generate that income but the player is keen for a Premier League move and neither Spurs or Palace were willing to hit that amount.
Crystal Palace and Tottenham will be feeling angry about Stuttgart move for Bilal El Khannouss
While both the Eagles and Palace have backed out of a deal for El Khannouss, they will be left feeling angry about the latest developments. With a £26m bid reported to have got the ball rolling, both Premier League sides will wonder why Leicester did not same amount of money from either of them.
Palace especially were ready to fork out £6m more but now will not be signing the player. It is a situation that has stopped Spurs and Palace signing one of their targets and cost the Foxes more money. It just smacks of poor business from the Championship side.
El Khannouss was a potential replacement for Eberechi Eze after his move to Arsenal. Spurs had been interested in Eze and agreed a deal before a late hijack from the Gunners.