Leicester City have a new midfielder in Bilal El Khannouss, an exciting young talent signed from Genk for £19 million.
The Foxes desperately needed an attacking midfielder following Kiernan Dewsbury Hall’s departure to Chelsea earlier in the summer. El Khannouss was identified as the top target for replacing the Englishman.
The Morocco international is considered one of the brightest prospects as he makes way to the Premier League. Let’s see what makes him such a special talent and why Leicester were willing to pay a hefty fee to bring him to King Power.
Bilal El Khannous – an excellent progressive passer
El Khannouss is a creative midfielder whose biggest strength is his progressive passing. He averages almost nine progressive passes a match, putting him in the 98th percentile when compared against other attacking midfielders and wingers. The youngster recorded six assists in the Belgium Pro League last season, which should have been higher according to his expected assisted goals (xAG) of 8.2.
Apart from his creativity, there are plenty of things to like about El Khannouss. The youngster is determined and has a high work rate. He frequently helps his team defensively, and his 2.16 tackles per game place him in the 94th percentile.
However, the Moroccan considers himself more of a number eight than an attacking midfielder. A closer look at El Khannouss’ stats suggests his playing style and strengths suit a number eight. While he does excel in progressive passing and is generally creative, his end product could be better.
More suited as a number eight?
He barely ever scores goals, and it’s easy to see why, with low averages of 1.54 shots per game and 1.81 touches in the opposition box. While El Khannouss’ creativity creates many shots for his team, they need more quality. His xG from shot creation ranks him in the 14th percentile, suggesting he lacks finesse with his final touch to increase the quality of those chances.
It is crucial to get him to perform as a number ten. Leicester’s three-man midfield with two eights isn’t possible with both Winks and Oliver Skipp pivot players. Facundo Bounannotte has impressed as an attacking midfielder so far and should keep his place in the team for now. However, at age 20, El Khannouss has plenty of time to develop. Steve Cooper will work closely with the youngster to mold him into the type of player they want.
While his playing style and tactical fit in the team need some fine-tuning, El Khannouss is an exciting talent who can become a star for the Foxes. With a long season ahead, fans will definitely get plenty of glimpses of the young Moroccan.