Newcastle’s €40m chase for Stuttgart’s Moroccan playmaker

VfB Stuttgart’s 22‑year‑old Moroccan midfielder Bilal El Khannouss is now being touted as a late‑season target for England’s Premier League, with Newcastle United already sending an enquiry and the German club reportedly willing to negotiate for a fee above €40 million.

Several Premier League clubs see El Khannouss as a potential late‑transfer solution as the summer window draws to a close. The 22‑year‑old has attracted interest from Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace in addition to Newcastle United.

Stuttgart's price tag and sale stance

Stuttgart are not actively seeking to sell, but will consider a departure if a suitable offer arrives and the player is satisfied with the destination. reports the German side would base negotiations on a figure above €40 million.

Stuttgart secured El Khannouss permanently earlier this year after initially paying Leicester City around €5 million for a loan. A contractual purchase obligation of €18 million was subsequently triggered to complete the deal.

El Khannouss brings the experience of 32 Premier League appearances with Leicester City during the 2024/25 campaign. His time in England provides him with familiarity of the league’s pace and physicality.

He enjoyed an excellent first half of the campaign but struggled for consistency after the Africa Cup of Nations. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß dropped him from the starting XI for the May 3‑0 DFB‑Pokal final loss to Bayern Munich, a decision El Khannouss reportedly viewed as a slight.

At Stuttgart, competition from Chris Führich, Jamie Leweling, Tiago Tomás and new arrival Leo Sauer makes regular minutes hard to secure. While Algerian striker Badredine Bouanani is being considered for a loan, El Khannouss is seen as having significantly greater market potential.

Premier League interest and next steps

Newcastle United have already made an enquiry, and Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are also linked as the window enters its final days. Should an offer above the €40 million threshold materialise, Stuttgart could permit a move that satisfies the player’s desire to return to England.

However, Stuttgart are not actively pushing the sale and will weigh any proposal against the appeal of the destination for the Moroccan international. The player’s recent dip in form and the depth of Stuttgart’s attacking options add further uncertainty to any potential transfer.