A complicated season can change the game in the transfer market. This is illustrated by the situation of Bilal El Khannouss, a 22-year-old Moroccan attacking midfielder under contract with VfB Stuttgart until June 2030. According to information from Sky Sport relayed by Hespress FR, the German club has significantly revised its asking price downward: from a price set at around 65 million euros, Stuttgart would now be willing to consider a departure for approximately 40 million euros, bonuses included.
A commercial downgrade linked to performances
The sporting context partly explains this revision. El Khannouss, who joined Stuttgart permanently after an initial loan spell, is going through a period of disappointing output: two goals in fifteen appearances across all competitions, with not a single assist at this stage of the season. These statistics contrast with the expectations placed on him and, according to the source, have contributed to cooling several potential suitors faced with the initial price tag of 65 million euros.
The reduction of nearly 40 % in the asking price is not trivial. It reflects either Stuttgart’s desire to reduce their wage bill, or an acknowledgment that the market does not value the player at the expected level — or both at the same time. Without a formal offer at this stage, the figure of 40 million remains an estimate of the club’s asking price, and not a deal in the process of being finalised.
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Galatasaray, a confirmed interest but without a formal offer
Among the clubs monitoring the situation, Galatasaray stands out for the frankness of its interest. Manager Okan Buruk had publicly acknowledged following El Khannouss, as well as his teammate Ermedin Demirović. The Istanbul club represents a credible option, even if its financial capabilities — in a context of UEFA oversight of Turkish clubs — deserve to be put into perspective against an entry price of 40 million euros.
The question of timing is also open: Stuttgart would not be under immediate pressure, with the player contracted until June 2030. A departure as early as the winter transfer window or during the next summer window remains possible, but the German club holds the upper hand and has no contractual obligation to sell quickly.
What this affair says about Moroccan football in the European market
Beyond the individual case, El Khannouss’s trajectory raises questions about the conditions of integration of Moroccan internationals in Bundesliga clubs. After a notable 2022 World Cup with the Lions de l’Atlas and promising early performances on loan, sustained confirmation over the long term is proving more difficult. This phenomenon — excellent in a super-sub role or on loan, more exposed when the demands for consistency intensify — is not unique to the player, but it raises the question of the tactical environment and the playing time granted.
It remains to be seen whether a transfer to a different league, possibly less athletically demanding than the Bundesliga, would allow El Khannouss to rediscover his best level — or whether the current period is merely a temporary dip in a career that still has a long way to go at 22 years old.
Source: Hespress FR (based on Sky Sport), 2025
