2018-19 Premier League runners-up Liverpool are not going to pursue the signing of Lyon’s Nabil Fekir, as per Independent. Fekir was heavily linked with the Merseyside club last year but it looks as though Liverpool have been priced out of a deal as the French club want £45 million for the attacking midfielder. The Frenchman has just 12 months left on his current deal, having signed his last extension in 2015.
Fekir was agonisingly close to a move to Anfield last year after Lyon had accepted a £53 million bid but the deal fell through after Liverpool were bothered by a previous knee injury. Lyon’s President has confirmed that Fekir would be allowed to leave in the summer, but it won’t be to Anfield.
The French international came through the ranks at Lyon and has played nearly 200 times for the club since making his debut in 2013. Fekir has scored 69 times for the French club and has been an integral part of their team. In the 2018-19 season, Fekir scored 12 times and provided 9 assists in all competitions.
The Lyon attacking midfielder was also a part of the French 2018 World Cup squad, which went on to win the tournament but was a player who came off the bench for the final few minutes of games.
Is this the right decision by Klopp?
Liverpool certainly need a player in the ilk of Fekir, someone who can play between the lines and break down stubborn defences with his intelligent passing and through balls. A well-rounded player who can dribble, pass and shoot from distance, the Frenchman would have been a useful player for Liverpool.
But the decision to not sign him could turn out to be a wise one by Jurgen Klopp and co. Fekir’s past injury which scuppered the deal to bring him to Anfield could be a cause for concern yet again.
Liverpool will also be paying a big transfer fee for a player who has just one year on his contract and could start negotiating with clubs in a few months time in January. Liverpool could perhaps try again in January if they are still interested in signing Fekir.
The Reds have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who will be playing from the start of the season while Adam Lallana is an added option if Klopp has to look for emergency backups.
The Liverpool squad is a strong one at the moment and doesn’t need too much tinkering. They will have to focus on strengthening the striker’s position as Roberto Firmino doesn’t have strong competition currently while a quality backup for Sadio Mane should also be a priority.