Newcastle should get deal done for 91st percentile attacker with 2.48 & 56.2% stats
Bilal El Khannouss' impressive stint in the Bundesliga should push Newcastle into prioritising a move for his services over the next six days.
Matthias Jaissle has hinted at the Magpies trying to sign a new attacking midfielder before next Tuesday's deadline passes.
Yoane Wissa started behind Will Osula in their season opener against Liverpool, with Joe Willock coming on to score and Nick Woltemade also an option to feature there.
They have explored a move for Lille star Matias Fernandez-Pardo, but a deal is stalling due to the finances involved.
Foot Mercato have reported that Stuttgart playmaker El Khannouss has emerged as an alternative target to the Belgian in the last 24 hours.
His impressive performances for the German club show that Newcastle should move from Fernandez-Pardo to complete a deal for El Khannouss, 22, in the coming days.
Bilal El Khannouss would add bags of creativity to the Newcastle team
El Khannouss is no stranger to the Premier League having spent the 2024-25 campaign season at Leicester, where he registered two goals and three assists in 32 top flight games.
The Moroccan playmaker earned a loan-to-buy move to Stuttgart last summer after the Foxes' relegation, and was hugely impressive in his maiden Bundesliga campaign.
He struck four goals and five assists in 25 league matches, while bagging another five times in 11 Europa League games too.
El Khannouss created chances at a better rate than Fernandez-Pardo did in Ligue 1 (2.48 to 1.36), while he was in the 91st percentile for expected assists per 90 and missed 12 fewer big chances than the Belgian.
The Moroccan had a better successful dribble rate (56.2% to 43.9%) and better ground duels won rate (48.7% to 46.6%) than Pardo, while he also won more aerial duels per 90 too.
It is plain to see that, with the Magpies crying out for a creative number 10, they should prioritise signing El Khannouss over Fernandez-Pardo this week.
Ruud van Nistelrooy praise should excite Newcastle fans
Newcastle are not the first PL club to show an interest in the Stuttgart star this summer, with sources revealing to Football Insider on 16 August that Leeds could make a late move for El Khannouss.
The Magpies will surely fancy their chances of beating the Whites to a deal, though, and should be encouraged to do so by Van Nistelrooy's previous comments.
Speaking as Leicester manager in December 2024, he said: "I think our playing style suits him well. His technique and talent are exceptional. I think you will see and hear a lot more from him. He can go very far. He has the potential to become a top player in the Champions League."