Away from the West Ham goal keeper transfer saga for a moment, more details have emerged regarding contract clauses of one of the Irons’ top midfield targets.
Following Gonzo’s article earlier this month concerning the relegation clause in the contract of another of Leicester City’s brightest talents, it seems that in addition to naming the price for a release, the players’ clause is also time-limited, meaning the Hammers and other suitors have until just 15th August to activate it.
Identified by Ex WHUemployee as being on Potter and Macaulay’s ‘playmaker’ shortlist, Bilal El-Khannouss is available for ‘just’ the £22.5 million now that the Foxes have slipped back into the Championship.
The attacking midfielder is attracting interest from Leeds and Spurs alongside West Ham, but according to Leeds site theleedspress.com the clause has to be activated by mid August – so the clock is ticking on a deal with any purchaser.
Whether the Hammers will pursue their interest in El-Khannouss depends on what remains of the summer budget once the club make a choice on their goalkeeper, no doubt: A two-player swoop on Leicester City for both Hermansen and El Khannouss would seem to be -erm- unlikely.
So far the signs are not looking good that West Ham can move fast enough with just ten days to activate the skilful Moroccan’s buyout clause. The club still insist that a midfielder plus a goalkeeper is on the ‘must-have’ list before the window closes, but the cynics in the Hammers fan base (count me as one) still point to the fact that Josh Brownhill appears to be waiting in the wings as the ‘freebie’ midfield signing designate.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if in the next 48 hour’s it’s announced that West Ham have agreed a fee to sign Mads Hermansen but also a loan to buy deal for Bilal El Khannouss! It’s the maddest window I can remember but anyone’s better than Brownhill and Sterling!
Perhaps West Ham think that yet another player likely off to AFCON might not be the brightest idea
They secured a £145m overdraft or loan capacity a few weeks ago I think if I remember one of the previous posts on this site ?
In which case they can if they choose too, if Man City and Chelsea can scare the incompetent FA off from their alleged egregious breaches of PSR and other financial irregularities no reason why West Ham shouldn’t engage in the same when called for, the PL and FA are no friends of ours and are a blight on our success as we see every season in the points we lose to poor refereeing decisions. It’s one rule for the Chelsea, City, Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal and others for the rest.
Hopefully the Bournemouth’s Brighton’s, Forest, ourselves and all other can continue to eat away at the big clubs profits to the point they become like Barcelona, AC Milan, Rangers etc the league and football as a whole will be better for it.
On the subject of the player, he reminds me a lot of Benrahma a good game changer though maybe not a starter most games.
Can’t help but think a certain defender would benefit from having his countryman alongside him?
Could be wirth a punt, though I’ll admit, I know nothing of this fella.