Why Liverpool ALREADY want to sign Bilal El Khannouss

Liverpool like Leicester City wonderkid Bilal El Khannouss - but why? Here's what you need to know.

Anfield Watch exclusively reported this week that Bilal El Khannouss remains on the radar at Liverpool. The Reds actually looked at the playmaker before his move to Leicester City but didn't like the price tag.

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£21m, after all, is a massive amount for a player out of the Belgian Pro League. The Foxes were willing to take that gamble - Liverpool, however, were happy to wait.

And it is just a waiting game. Liverpool haven't ended their pursuit but they'd be far happier paying a big premium for a player who's proven himself in the Premier League.

But why El Khannouss? What is it about him that excites Liverpool and has them retain a long-term interest?

Liverpool like Bilal El Khannouss

The short answer is that El Khannouss is a proper wonderkid. He's still only 20 and looked like one of the brightest prospects in Europe last season.

Any teenager/20-year-old topping a decent European league for shot creation is someone to keep an eye on. El Khannouss did just that last season - he averaged six shot-creating actions per 90, the best in Belgium.

And if you only consider players who featured played enough minutes to cover 15 games, the youngster was fourth for expected assists, third for key passes and third for completed passes into the penalty area.

He is, at his core, this creative, passing playmaker. Someone who will find the passes to unlock defences and create chances for his team.

And that's starting to happen in the Premier League. El Khannouss is averaging around one created chance per 90 minutes this season - but he's still finding his feet.

In fixtures he's started, the Moroccan averages just shy of two created chances. It's a brilliant rate and one that should rise with more football.

But what really puts El Khannouss on another level is the fact he can deliver this excitement while also bringing the defensive work. How many 20-year-olds can win a tackle every 90 minutes in the Premier League while playing attacking midfield?

How many have been doing it consistently across all of their development years?

El Khannouss averaged at least one tackle in each of his Genk seasons. He does it from all over the pitch, too, and wins the ball back in the attacking third on average once every other game.

His success rate against dribblers was magnificent last season, too - 57 per cent. It's the kind of stuff you'd hope to see from any midfielder you might sign, let alone an attacking one.

And definitely not one as young as El Khannouss. He's a special, unique talent, though - and one who appears destined for the top.

But the Belgian league?

Yes, the Belgian league. It's easy to write off leagues outside of Europe's absolute best - after all, how can you properly judge a player there?

Liverpool didn't value it highly enough to take El Khannouss's numbers as definitely transferable to the Premier League.

But while that's a valid stance, it's also notable that many of the world's best players came from these leagues. Kevin De Bruyne made his name directly in the Belgian league, of course. For Mo Salah, it was Switzerland. Luka Modric grew a reputation as an exciting wonderkid while still in Croatia.

El Khannouss appears to be cut from the same cloth. If he really can continue his form and development, Liverpool will likely be tempted into a massive offer.

Data per Fbref.

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