Observers have likened Bilal El Khannouss to Arjen Robben, as he makes a blistering start away from Leicester City.
Rundschau für den Schwäbischen Wald draw the comparison today, in an interview with the Leicester City loanee, who is presently at Stuttgart.
The 21-year-old moved to the German outfit on loan at the close of the transfer window after being linked with a departure from Leicester City throughout the summer. The agreement includes an obligation to buy under certain conditions.
He’s made an impressive beginning to life in the Bundesliga, with two goals in four appearances so far. El Khannouss has also netted once in two Europa League fixtures.
That’s where the Robben comparison stems from. The publication points out that the Dutch icon was renowned for cutting inside from the flank and finding the net, with few defenders capable of halting him.
The Leicester City loanee is replicating something similar, with his three goals coming from nearly identical movements. He’s on track to making the move his own ‘signature trademark’.
Goal-scoring hasn’t been among the 21-year-old’s strongest attributes in previous seasons. He managed just three in 37 competitive matches last term for Leicester City. That appears to have shifted, and he concedes he sometimes overanalyzed things last season.
“I follow my instincts, last season I overthought things,” he said.
It’s all encouraging news for his new team so far, though manager Sebastien Hoeneß still hopes to make him a more rounded player.
“The balance between risk and clarity isn’t always right yet, there are one or two too many ball losses. We’ll work on that with him,” he added.