Tottenham prepare £25.7m bid for Stuttgart midfielder Bilal El Khannouss
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a £25.7m bid for VfB Stuttgart midfielder Bilal El Khannouss as they seek vital attacking reinforcements ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The north London club have made initial contact with the 22-year-old’s representatives to discuss the structure of a potential transfer.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi is desperate to add creativity to the final third following consecutive 17th-place finishes in the Premier League.
Stuttgart hold firm on valuation
Spurs are reportedly willing to offer an initial €30m (£25.7m) plus add-ons for the highly-rated Moroccan international.
However, the Bundesliga side are in a strong negotiating position after the playmaker signed a long-term contract until June 2029 earlier this year.
Stuttgart’s leadership is expected to demand a guaranteed fee closer to £40m and will instantly reject any loan proposals.
The former Leicester City prospect is also attracting strong interest from Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.
Injury crisis forces market action
El Khannouss enjoyed a stellar debut campaign in Germany last term, registering nine goals in 41 appearances while on loan.
His versatility allows him to operate centrally as a number 10 or on either flank, making him an ideal fit for De Zerbi’s tactical system.
Tottenham desperately need reliable options after enduring severe injury problems with their established creative players over the past 12 months.
James Maddison was restricted to just three substitute appearances late last season following a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Meanwhile, Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski has not featured since suffering a patella tendon issue in May 2025.
Rebuilding the squad
The pursuit of a new attacking midfielder continues a busy summer of restructuring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs have already demonstrated their financial power by completing the £100m capture of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle.
Focus is now firmly on securing additional firepower before the upcoming Premier League opener against Brentford.