LEICESTER loanee Bilal El Khannouss revealed he received interest from a Champions League club shortly after last season’s relegation.
The Foxes dropped to the Championship immediately after their return to the top flight as they finished 18th last term.
El Khannouss, 21, looked for a way back to the big leagues during the summer transfer window and received plenty of interest.
Rumours suggested the playmaker was courted by Manchester United and Tottenham, but he insists there was nothing concrete there.
But the Morocco international revealed he was eyed by Newcastle and Crystal Palace.
El Khannouss was presented with the prospect of playing in the Champions League with the Magpies or the Conference League with Palace.
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However, none of the two Premier League suitors were able to meet the attacking midfielder’s release clause.
The Moroccan ace was ultimately loaned out to Stuttgart on transfer deadline day three months ago after a special deal was reached between Leicester and the Bundesliga outfit.
El Khannouss told Foot Mercato when asked about speculation linking him with a move to Man Utd and Tottenham last summer: “No, these clubs were not really concrete.
“I was in a lot of lists. But concrete level, it was mainly Crystal Palace and Newcastle also a little bit. In the end, it didn’t succeed.
“What I didn’t understand, above all, is that it didn’t work out knowing that I had a release clause. No club wanted to pay [it].
“We managed to find a deal with Stuttgart. And I’m happy even if things haven’t been easy this summer to be honest. It was difficult to find a way out with Leicester that didn’t make it easy.”
El Khannouss knew from the beginning he didn’t want to play in the Championship this season.
And the ex-Genk star revealed he let new manager Marti Cifuentes know of his decision immediately after his arrival.
El Khannouss added: “The new coach has arrived at Leicester. We had resumed for two weeks. He wanted to explain his project to me but I was clear from the beginning with the club and the coach.
“I didn’t see myself staying in the Championship, I aim much higher than that while respecting the Championship.
“I wanted to play in the Premier League, in the Bundesliga, at the high level. Play European Cups as a young man of my age wants.
“I said I wanted to leave. And they told me that if everything was aligned at the deal level, they would do it. In the end, at the end of the transfer window, they must have had a little more hope that I stay.
“It was out of the question for me and I had told them. I really didn’t see myself staying one more year in Leicester.“
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