West Ham United must bring in midfield reinforcements after losing Mohammed Kudus, and Leicester City ace Bilal El Khannouss is reportedly on their transfer radar (h/t L’Equipe).
El Khannouss has impressed since arriving at Leicester from Genk for £21 million last summer, catching the eyes of the Hammers.
He showed flashes of brilliance in his debut Premier League campaign, registering three goals and five assists in 33 appearances.
His technical poise, vision and ability to operate between the lines make him a valuable asset.
He can comfortably transition between roles depending on the system deployed by manager Graham Potter.
West Ham need creativity and guile, especially with Kudus gone and a cloud hanging over Lucas Paqueta due to his pending betting case. El Khannouss would be an ideal fit.
He would bring dynamism, forward thrust and tactical flexibility to a West Ham midfield that too often looked rigid and one-paced last season.
Leicester will likely demand more than the £21m they paid, but their relegation strips them of negotiating power.
For West Ham, this could represent a rare opportunity to sign a high-upside, Premier League-proven talent at a reasonable price.
If the Hammers are serious about rebuilding their squad to push for European places in the coming seasons, this is the kind of intelligent, long-term signing they must target.
Liverpool attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott is also another player on the West Ham wishlist, and he would be a fantastic pick-up.
They are both left-footed playmakers who can operate in central or attacking midfield and on the right wing. The Hammers need to move quickly to get one of them to London.
