Bilal El Khannouss showed why he would be a perfect fit for Newcastle United during Stuttgart's 4-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen, but there is a catch. The Moroccan international has been in excellent form for the German side, who are open to offers for the playmaker.
Newcastle's Struggles and January Plans
Newcastle United are hoping the January transfer window can address a frustrating start to the Premier League season. After the opening two games, which saw them take four points from Liverpool and Tottenham, Matthias Jaissle's squad have struggled to impose themselves in any match.
The team have looked vulnerable at the back and lacking firepower up front. Defensive performances have improved since Dan Burn's return, but every mistake is being punished, compounded by an inability to score at the other end. Jaissle wants to play with a No 10, but United do not have anyone suited to the role, and the lack of a goalscoring No 9 makes defensive errors fatal.
El Khannouss's Impressive Performance
Newcastle are said to be ready to act in January. The summer saw eight new arrivals, but aside from Matias Fernandez-Pardo, the goalscoring roles were overlooked. Croatia striker Dion Drena Beljo is on United's radar, while El Khannouss is a potential target.
The 22-year-old, who has Premier League experience with Leicester City, has developed significantly since moving to the Bundesliga. In Stuttgart's 4-2 win at Leverkusen, he was electric, operating between the Stuttgart backline and midfield, creating chances throughout and scoring their third goal. His ability to find space stood out, offering exactly what Newcastle are missing.
Caveats and Verdict
There are caveats. The game was wide open, an end-to-end affair, and such space and time are rare in the Premier League. El Khannouss is not the answer to Newcastle's goalscoring issues; he would create chances and weigh in with his fair share, but without a No 9 ahead of him, his talents would be under-used.
Despite only 90 minutes of viewing, he clearly demonstrated he can deliver what Jaissle wants from the role. A fee of €40m feels like a steal, and Newcastle should snap Stuttgart's hands off.
