£24.5m Leeds transfer plunged into doubt as Newcastle 'ready to trigger release clause'

Newcastle United are looking to steal a march on Leeds United by signing Leicester City midfielder Bilal El Khannouss. Reports suggest that the Magpies intend to meet El Khannouss's release clause, thought to be in the region of £24.5 million. Newcastle have endured a tricky summer on the transfer front, with star striker Alexander Isak angling for a move to Liverpool. The club has also missed out on a series of high-profile targets to their Premier League rivals.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe is now looking to reverse his fortunes and inflict the damage that's been done to his side this summer, on Leeds, as he hopes to bring the Morocco international to St James' Park. The Foxes signed El Khannouss for around £19.5m from Belgian outfit Genk last summer, but he could now be on the move due to a contract clause that can be activated following Leicester's relegation from the Premier League last season, as per The Telegraph.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke had expressed an interest in the attacking midfielder, but with his clause set to expire this week, the Magpies are now quickly advancing their efforts to secure El Khannouss's signing over The Whites.

El Khannouss played the full 90 minutes of Leicester's victory over Sheffield United on the opening weekend of the Championship season. The 21-year-old provided both assists for the goals scored by Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes in the 2-1 win.

Howe is desperately searching for attacking reinforcements this summer, and El Khannouss, who impressed for Leicester last year in an otherwise disappointing campaign, could represent a shrewd move.

Newcastle have missed out on several targets this summer already. Hugo Ekitike, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were all courted by the North East club, only for Ekitike to join Liverpoolwhile Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko all elected for Old Trafford.

Newcastle's accelerated interest in El Khannouss comes as Isak, 25, informed the club that he doesn't wish to play for them again. The Swede's bombshell arrives amidst heavy interest from Liverpool, with the Reds already having had a £110million bid turned down for the star.

Isak joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 and has gone on to score 54 goals in 86 Premier League appearances. He was the second top scorer in the top-flight last season and also struck in Newcastle's Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool.

However, he has not taken part in Newcastle's pre-season and was also omitted from the club's tour of the Far East. Isak is now training away from his team-mates back in England after taking on a solo pre-season at former club Sociedad.

According to The Athletic, Isak, who still has another three years remaining on his contract, has no desire to reintegrate into the Magpies squad and is said to have moved out of his Newcastle home. Howe's men begin their Premier League campaign on Saturday against Aston Villa, with Isak fully expected not to be part of the proceedings.