Liverpool is among the clubs who have “invited” the player’s mother and agent, Karima Ben Aissa, to talk about a possible transfer, according to claims from the Belgian publication Het Laatste Nieuws.
She stated last week, “We’re in contact with a few clubs,” but clarified that her son’s next stop “doesn’t necessarily have to be a big name”. Furthermore, she stated, “Playing minutes take precedence.”
The 19-year-old, whose contract is set to expire in 2027, has made 20 Jupiler Pro League appearances for Genk this season, tallying three goals and three assists.
Although he has played on the left side as well, the midfielder, who was born in Belgium, usually plays through the middle.
Window shopping
Liverpool sent scouts to watch El Khannouss play this season, according to a number of reports that have surfaced since last year.
But Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen are also contenders for the Reds, with the Spanish team notably hoping to make a bid in January.
According to reports from the Spanish publication Marca, Atleti has named El Khannouss as one of their top three targets for the winter transfer window, along with Horatiu Moldovan of Rapid București and Moise Kean of Juventus.
Despite his youth, El Khannouss has already played for Morocco as a full international, having made his debut in the World Cup 2022 playoff match against Croatia in the third place. He’s actually playing for his country right now at the African Cup of Nations.
Genk seems to be sticking to their guns about the cars not being transferred in January as they try to work out a better price for the next summer.
A record fee.
El Khannouss was nominated for the coveted Golden Boy award last year, which Jude Bellingham ultimately won, but he was awarded the Belgian Golden Shoe for the finest young talent playing in the nation back in 2022.
“I have always said to Bilal and his entourage that we believe he should become the most expensive outgoing transfer in Belgian football,” Genk director Dimitri De Condé remarked to HLN last year.
The €36.5 million (£31 million) transfer of Charles De Ketelaere from Club Brugge to AC Milan in 2022 is currently the greatest sale in Belgian football history.
