Moroccan Prodigy Bilal El Khannouss Set to Extend Contract with KRC Genk, Rejecting Ajax Interest

KRC Genk prefers to keep its Moroccan prodigy rather than let him go to another club. "Genk is not a seller, neither this winter nor even, barring a gigantic offer, next summer. The goal is to help him progress, and we know that Genk has already been able to make its leaders wait before letting them leave. Bilal knows that Genk is the ideal environment to develop further and is very ambitious, just like this club," said Dimitri De Condé, sports director of Racing Genk, in the face of rumors of the Moroccan player’s departure, reports Footnews.

Genk would consider including a clause in the contract stipulating that the Lion of the Atlas will not be able to make a transfer next season. Bilal El Khannouss started his training at Anderlecht and finished it at KRC Genk before starting his professional career in 2022. In a recent interview, he stressed that he felt more valued in his current club with a well-defined career plan. Considered one of the best prospects in the Belgian championship, he received the 2022 Talent of the Year award a few days ago.

At his young age, he has many potentials that have prompted selectors Roberto Martínez of Belgium and Walid Regragui of Morocco to start negotiations with him. But he will end up choosing Morocco, and gets his ticket for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He is currently the youngest Moroccan player in history to participate in such a competition.