A largely frustrating transfer window could yet have a happy ending for Leicester City.
After waiting until mid-August for their first signing of the summer, three arrived in the space of just two weeks.
Facundo Buonanotte, the silky Argentine loanee brought in from Brighton and Hove Albion, sparkled on his debut in that 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur; more nutmegs than Gordon Ramsey’s spice cabinet.
Speaking of Spurs, Oliver Skipp then swapped North London for the King Power Stadium, giving Steve Cooper a proven Premier League operator in the centre of the park and a man to offset the loss of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Jordan Ayew, the former Crystal Palace utility man, become signing number three. And while the workmanlike Ayew will not have too many hairs standing up on end, his stunning long-range strike against Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup was a very good introduction to his new supporters.
Transfer number four, however, could be the most exciting of the lot.
Leicester City close to signing Genk ace Bilal El Khannouss
Bilal El Khannouss, HITC understands, has agreed terms with the top-flight newcomers.
The KRC Genk ace has informed the Belgian outfit that he is keen to secure the move to England before Friday’s deadline, although Leicester will have to stump up a fee of at least £17 million.
El Khannouss’ has not exactly endeared himself to the Genk supporters with the way he has gone about trying to seal his departure. Reporter Sacha Tavolieri highlighted the ‘tension’ behind the scenes with the Morocco international reportedly pulling out of training.
But Genk coach Thorsten Fink will hold no lasting grudges, even if he is disappointed to lose arguably the most talented midfielder in Belgian football.
“With a bit more experience, he might have handled it a bit differently in the last few days,” Fink tells Het Laaste Nieuws, El Khannouss expected to be unavailable for Friday’s Jupiler League clash with KV Westerlo as he prepares to travel to England.
“Bilal’s mind was set on leaving. It was good that we didn’t play at the weekend (Genk’s match against Anderlecht was postponed), because you know that his mind wasn’t in it. You need players who are fully focused on their club and not on a transfer.”
Likened to Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric
Fink is also urging the supporters to be forgiving with El Khannouss, even if he is due to depart under something of a cloud.
“He is a 20-year-old boy. That makes it a different story from someone who is 28. So, let’s not be too hard on him,” adds the former Basel coach.
“Look, I understand how these things work. If Bilal had had a bit more experience, he would probably have waited and let (director) Dimitri de Conde and the board do their job. They are professional people.
“In principle, it would have gone in the same direction as now. Bilal is a good player and represented a lot of value. The club has to earn money. The club is not stupid and knows that. You have to stay calm sometimes and let people do their job.
“It was always the plan that El Khannouss would leave this summer.”
El Khannouss has been likened to Real Madrid and Croatia superstar Luka Modric due to his fine footwork and defence-splitting passes.
Fink confirms that, while Leicester City are set to win the race, it was made a little easier by The Foxes due to the lack of offers from fellow suitors RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.
“Is Leicester the right move? I’m not his agent and I don’t know,” muses the Bayern Munich hero. “It’s not up to me to say anything about that. If it feels good for him, it’s okay. It’s his career and his choice.
“Maybe he wanted to go to Germany, but Leverkusen and Leipzig didn’t come.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
