Moroccan playmaker Bilal El Khannouss eyed by Bayer Leverkusen as Wirtz successor

Bayer Leverkusen are seriously considering Moroccan international Bilal El Khannouss as a key candidate to replace Florian Wirtz, who recently departed the club for Liverpool.

The 21-year-old midfielder has emerged as a sought-after name across Europe following a standout season.

Leverkusen have identified El Khannouss as a natural successor to Wirtz. Internal discussions are reportedly underway, and the club has made initial contact to understand the conditions of a potential transfer.

El Khannouss’s profile fits well with Leverkusen’s tactical setup—a playmaker with excellent vision, short-passing ability, and a high work rate off the ball.

The midfielder’s future has become a major talking point following Leicester City’s relegation to the Championship.

Having joined the Foxes in 2024, El Khannouss quickly established himself as one of their brightest talents, impressing with his composure, creativity, and ability to control the midfield. This form sparked interest from top clubs across England, Germany, and Italy.

In the Premier League, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Fulham, and Wolverhampton are among the suitors, while in Italy, Lazio, Napoli, and Atalanta have been monitoring El Khannouss closely.

But it is in the Bundesliga where the most concrete developments appear to be taking shape, with both Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig expressing a strong desire to acquire the midfielder.

Throughout the past season, El Khannouss registered three goals and six assists, showcasing his capacity to influence games both as a creator and a scorer. His style—marked by smooth ball control and technical sharpness—has earned him significant praise and lifted his transfer value.

Leicester City, despite relegation, remain keen to retain their emerging talent unless a substantial offer arrives. The club aims to keep a core group of players to support their promotion push, but interest from Champions League clubs may be hard to resist.

El Khannouss previously stated his desire to aid Leicester’s return to the Premier League. However, the recent wave of interest from European clubs could test that commitment.

A move to Bayer Leverkusen—known for nurturing young talent—could offer competition at the highest level and continued growth in a competitive tactical system.

Securing El Khannouss would give Leverkusen not only a successor to Wirtz but also a rising midfield talent from North Africa.

For the Moroccan international, it represents an opportunity to establish himself in one of Europe’s top leagues and take the next step in his promising career.

Bilal El Khannouss’s ball IQ is way beyond that of a 20yr old, give this kid two to three years in a good environment and he’ll become one of the best midfielders in the world. Arsenal should be all of this kid pic.twitter.com/ywSpXCEW1v

— AFC Xtra (@AFC__Xtra) May 12, 2025