Liverpool transfer news: Man Utd enter race for £26m Reds target

Manchester United have entered the race to sign Liverpool transfer target and exciting youngster Bilal El Khannouss.

The attacking midfielder has impressed during his time at Belgian club Genk, accumulating 76 appearances to date and registering four goals and ten assists.

The 19-year-old was born in Belgium but represents Morocco at international level, earning ten caps for the nation - three of which have come from the bench at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Also capable of playing as a No. 8 or in advanced wide positions, Bilal El Khannouss has understandably caught the eye of Europe's elite, with FootballTransfers reporting that Man Utd have joined Liverpool in the race for the 19-year-old.

Man Utd are keen to improve their recruitment now that the INEOS group have invested at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils eager to sign younger players as opposed to more experienced professionals.

Liverpool have scouted the prodigy and even invited his agents to discuss terms with the club, according to some reports. However, Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen and Spanish side Atletico Madrid are also keen on his signature.

The midfielder is expected to cost somewhere between £21m to £26m, although Genk are keen on making him the most expensive player ever sold by a Belgian club.

That means that a deal would need to eclipse the £31m spent by Milan when signing Charles De Ketelaere from Club Brugge in 2022.

Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, who was a reported target for Liverpool, also left Belgium in January, moving to Atletico for £23m.

Liverpool are expected to prioritise strengthening their defence in coming transfer windows, but may need to act quickly if they are genuinely interested in signing El Khannouss.