Bilal El Khannouss has become one of the most sought-after young midfielders in Europe, and his next move is shaping up to be one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer sagas. The Moroccan international, currently at Leicester City, is attracting serious interest following the club’s relegation to the Championship.

According to reports from the French press, Olympique de Marseille are among the clubs pushing hardest for his signature — with none other than Mehdi Benatia, Marseille’s sporting director and former captain of the Atlas Lions, leading the charge. The former defender has reportedly taken a central role in trying to lure El Khannouss to Ligue 1, despite the player’s preference to remain in the Premier League.

Benatia is said to be working tirelessly behind the scenes, making use of his close ties with El Khannouss to convince the player that a move to the Vélodrome could be the ideal next step in his career. A €26 million release clause in El Khannouss’s contract presents a clear path for suitors — and Marseille are not alone in their interest.

Premier League clubs Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa are all monitoring the situation closely, with Arsenal particularly keen. Serie A side Napoli have also expressed interest, making this a multi-league tug-of-war for one of Morocco’s brightest talents.

Leicester City, resigned to losing the 20-year-old, have made it clear they will not entertain offers below the €26 million mark. For now, El Khannouss remains a Fox — but his future looks destined for a grander stage, and the race to sign him is only just heating up.