JUST IN: Newcastle United can sign exceptional midfielder for £30m this week – on one condition
Newcastle United Weighing Move for Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss as Midfield Concerns Grow
Newcastle United are reportedly considering triggering the release clause of Leicester City’s highly rated midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, as manager Eddie Howe looks to urgently reinforce a depleted midfield ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Magpies’ engine room has been hit by both departures and injuries in recent weeks. Sean Longstaff completed a move to Leeds United last month, while Joe Willock has been ruled out for up to six weeks with an Achilles problem. The setback leaves Howe with just four fit senior midfielders in a system that relies heavily on a three-man setup.
First-choice trio Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton remain intact, but 18-year-old Lewis Miley is currently the only recognised backup option. Speaking about the shortage, Howe admitted the situation was far from ideal:
> “We had six and we want six,” he said. “Now we’re down to four, so that’s an issue for us. That is a position that we are looking in. We don’t think Joe Willock’s injury is serious — my initial prognosis was four to six weeks, but it could be less. Even so, it’s an area that’s a bit of a concern.”
According to The Daily Telegraph, El Khannouss has emerged as a serious target to plug that gap. The Moroccan international joined Leicester from Belgian side Genk last summer for a reported £19.5 million and quickly became one of the few bright spots in what was ultimately a disappointing campaign that ended with the Foxes dropping out of the Premier League.
The 20-year-old showcased his creative flair once again at the weekend, registering both assists in Leicester’s 2–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in their Championship opener. That performance could turn out to be his last in a Leicester shirt, with Newcastle weighing up whether to activate his £30 million release clause — a clause that is due to expire later this week.
Transfer Activity Far From Over at St James’ Park
Newcastle have already strengthened in several areas during the summer window, bringing in defender Malick Thiaw from AC Milan, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal, and winger Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest. However, Howe has made it clear that more additions are needed before the transfer deadline on September 1.
The club are still searching for a replacement for striker Callum Wilson, who departed earlier this summer. Brentford forward Yoane Wissa is among the names under consideration. Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to surround the future of Alexander Isak, whose transfer saga has been an unwelcome distraction in pre-season.
Asked about potential arrivals following Newcastle’s most recent friendly, Howe acknowledged there is still work to be done:
> “We’ve got some work to do, if we can, in the transfer market, because I think that’s the only place we can get what we need in the next few weeks. We’re going to be actively trying to bring players in. Within the squad, I think we’ve got some very, very good players — the quality is there.
But we have an unbalanced squad right now. With the departures we’ve had and the numbers coming in the other way, it hasn’t quite evened out yet. We have work to do to put that right.”
On the fitness side, Howe remains optimistic, insisting the back-to-back games over the weekend had helped his players reach the required match sharpness. He added that another solid week of training would be crucial to ensure they are ready for what he expects to be a challenging start to the campaign.
Newcastle’s Premier League season begins with a tough away trip to Aston Villa this weekend, a fixture that could provide an early test of both their squad depth and their ambitions for the months ahead.