Nabil Fekir, a Liverpool transfer target last year, is set to leave the Ligue 1 side this year with the Frenchmen having only one more year left on his contract.
According to a report from the Sky Sports News, Lyon’s president Jean-Michel Aulas has given the green signal to the possible departure of Nabil Fekir in the summer.
Aulas said: “The club intends to cash in on the France International ahead of next season.”
Fekir has failed to replicate the same prolific form he showed during the 2017/18 season where he scored 23 goals in 39 appearances.
The 25-year-old, despite a dip in his form still has 21 goal contributions in 2018/19 campaign, and helped seal Champions League qualification for Lyon this past season.
Fekir would add more depth and quality to the Liverpool squad
Liverpool’s first team is pretty strong, but Jurgen Klopp will be well aware that the squad as a whole needs to be better, something that was reflected by the side’s poor showing in the domestic cups where the fringe players failed miserably.
Fekir is a versatile player who mainly features as an attacking midfielder, but can easily slot in the number 10 role or as a centre-forward given his flexible style of play.
Klopp has managed to tweak his system at times this season, but the 4-3-3 remains the most used set-up, with the midfield trio offering the energy and work-rate for the front three to get the job done in terms of their scoring.
If the club can get Fekir, they can switch to a 4-2-3-1 system, allowing Firmino to keep his place up top, with the former playing the role of a number 10.
A supremely talented midfielder, Fekir can unlock a defence with his passing or create something out of nothing owing to his good dribbling ability and change of pace – something the Reds are likely to need next season as teams will play a low-block against their attack.
Fekir is likely to come at a rate much lower than what he would have cost last season, and Liverpool should make a move for the French international as he would add a lot more quality and depth to an already impressive squad.
