Bilal El Khannouss: Moroccan magic and the power of possibilities
Bilal El Khannouss is a 20-year-old Moroccan international midfielder who arrives at Leicester from the Belgian side Genk, an hour east of his birthplace on the northern outskirts of Brussels.
If you’re judging on previous purchases who had played for Genk, let’s hope he’s slightly more Wilfred Ndidi - who arrived directly from Genk in January 2017 - than Dennis Praet, who played for them in his youth.
With just 4 goals and 4 assists in 76 Belgian top flight appearances, El Khannouss’s top line stats don’t look that impressive for a player slated to provide much-needed creativity. Leicester are seemingly gambling on those numbers going up despite the step up to the Premier League.
This is what top quality scouting is all about - identifying players with the potential to come in and continue to improve before they get spotted by other clubs or their performances at their current club make them unattainable.
It’s more Glover Plan than Cooper Plan. It’s also a move that brings to mind what Brendan Rodgers said in his pre-match press conference in August 2022 ahead of Leicester’s second game of the season against Southampton:
“The people I feel for at the minute for the supporters. Every single season, supporters travel to pre-season games and it’s great to be able to see two, three, four new players, how they’re getting on, and that builds the expectation and excitement for the season.
“For them, for this season, I really feel for them, that’s the honesty of it. They’ve had no-one new to look at. There’s only Wardy (goalkeeper Danny Ward) who has come into the team.
“That’s what the season is about. We can only say to them that we’re doing everything we possibly can here. Even if we haven’t had new signings, the players are fighting hard, and they’re going to continue to work hard and then we’ll see where it takes us.”
At the time, these comments were derided by a fanbase that were already beginning to turn against Rodgers, who saw a squad capable of better performances and some of whom were already starting to worry that relegation was a distinct possibility.
Yet there’s something in what he was saying. We saw throughout the rest of that season how the staleness had set in. Fans do want to see potential. It’s reminiscent of the King Power slogan sweeping around the electronic advertising boards while we’re watching a team devoid of goal threat: The Power of Possibilities.
This summer has been a slog for those of us invested in Leicester City’s arduous squad-building attempts. Steve Cooper has admitted Leicester have been tantalisingly close to signing attacking players, only for them to be wrenched from Jon Rudkin’s grasp like the last sausage roll at the King Power barbecue. Matias Soulé, Adam Hložek, Wilfried Zaha - all seemingly on the verge of agreeing moves to Leicester before the call came from Roma, Hoffenheim and HMRC respectively.
El Khannouss may have been a fair way down the initial list of targets, but that doesn’t make him any less exciting.
From cursory viewing of El Khannouss’s YouTube showreel, the inevitable comparisons to another wiry north African attacker will be misplaced - in terms of recent Leicester magicians, he’s more Maddison than Mahrez.
Many of Leicester’s signings this summer appear to have been chosen based on their ability to progress the ball upfield - whether that’s by driving runs through midfield (Skipp) or winning free kicks higher up the pitch (Ayew). El Khannouss is clearly a creative passer who enjoys trying to find clever angles for passes. Those qualities make for the intriguing prospect of linking up frequently with Abdul Fatawu in particular.
Looking at his Wikipedia page, it is also a delight to see listed underneath honours: ‘Order of the Throne’. Along with the rest of the Morocco squad from the 2020 Qatar World Cup, El Khannouss was given the award (for distinguished military and civil service) by his country.
And if his Instagram follower count is anything to go by (2.1 million - as opposed to Jamie Vardy’s 1.8 million, for example), we’re going to be seeing an influx of Moroccans suddenly keen to follow Leicester City’s progress this season.
Whether you’re in Rothley or Rabat, Cosby or Casablanca, Market Harborough or Marrakech (that’s enough - Ed.), your attentions will immediately be turning to wonder who El Khannouss will be feeding those clever through balls towards.
For now, it’ll be Vardy. When he returns from injury, it could be Patson Daka. And maybe Jordan Ayew is the alternative up front after impressing against the giants of Tranmere Rovers.
But seriously. Leicester City have effectively ditched half of our centre-forward options from last season with Iheanacho now sunning himself in Seville and Cannon either consigned to Seagrave or a move to the Championship later today.
As the transfer deadline approaches, we need one final push to help make the most of our new creative talent.
