Bilal El Khannouss paid £20 million to join in the summer, but he hasn’t made much of an impression in blue and has only started two of the eight games for which he is eligible.
As the attacking midfielder tries to demonstrate the skill that won his £20 million summer transfer, Steve Cooper maintains that “there is no shame” in Bilal El Khannouss’ sluggish start to life at Leicester City.
Since El Khannouss came from Genk, the manager has been progressively bringing him on board, giving him only two starts in the eight City games in which he has been eligible. The Moroccan international hasn’t exactly lit up the world yet.
The 20-year-old hasn’t had a big influence in any of the games he’s played, either as a starter or a replacement, despite some excellent touches and a shot against the post versus Southampton. On Wednesday night, when he is anticipated to be included in the starting lineup for the Carabao Cup match against Manchester United, he will look to change that.
Cooper seems unconcerned, though. The City manager is confident in El Khannouss’s ability and thinks he will develop into a dynamic member of the team. However, he is taking his time to establish himself because of the events surrounding his transfer and his interrupted season debut.
Earlier this month, Cooper stated: “That’s typical. It’s not a source of shame. That’s not a bad thing. Once it reaches the desired position, it will be good if we can fit his profile into the desired formation and tactics, both with and without the ball.
“The transfer money is the reason for the enquiries regarding him. However, he arrived just before the transfer window closed, is from a different nation, has taken a few international breaks, and we are making the switch back to the Premier League. In addition to the athlete and his decision to play or not, a number of other factors are happening.
“We are incredibly thrilled about the player he will be for the team and the path that will lead him there. We are thrilled about what he will be for us, and we can only say good things about the way he is putting himself into our job.
El Khannouss is only 20 years old, and the influence of Facundo Buonanotte has contributed to his limited playing time. Although the Argentinean is even younger, he has a lot of Premier League experience before coming on loan from Brighton. El Khannouss, who is playing for a team outside of Belgium for the first time in his career, obviously needs more time to adjust to English football.
Cooper continued, “There is no question that he will be a good player for the football club.” I can see how he trains and how positive he is as a football player, so I know that opportunities will come his way and he will be prepared for them.
Opportunities can occasionally present themselves immediately, occasionally be sporadic, and occasionally need waiting. The Premier League is filled with examples of each of those kinds.
“There will be players who have arrived from overseas, entered the Premier League right away, and destroyed it.” Some of them have been in and out before getting up to speed. Others will have to wait patiently before revealing their identities. Whether you are a seasoned top-league player or not, there is undoubtedly a settling-in period when you move to England for the first time.
“I am confident that Bilal will contribute to the team as a player. We’re thrilled to have him, and we’re having fun working with him and learning more about him. Additionally, we are providing him with a plan outlining his role on the team. I can’t wait to see where that goes.
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