During the transfer summer, there were numerous rumors about a potential departure from VfB Stuttgart for 22-year-old Moroccan and Belgian attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, who attracted interest from both Galatasaray and Newcastle United. A late attempt to sign the Moroccan international was also made by Al Ittihad. The Saudi club submitted a €40 million offer to Stuttgart on the night between Monday and Tuesday, according to a report that was later confirmed by 'Bild'. The deal was not completed because El Khannouss rejected the move, despite the prospect of earning double his salary.
The article suggests that Stuttgart might have accepted the offer if the sale of Chema Andrés had not occurred. Al Ittihad can still pursue the player, as the transfer window in Saudi Arabia remains open until October 12th. El Khannouss has 43 caps and 3 goals for Morocco, and his current contract with Stuttgart is valid until June 30, 2030. Transfermarkt estimates his market value at €35.00m.
