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Lyon Reportedly Give Liverpool Nabil Fekir Deadline Amid Transfer Rumours
July 17, 2018
Lyon have reportedly told Liverpool they have until the end of the month to wrap up a deal for Nabil Fekir.
According to L'Equipe (h/t Martin Domin of the Daily Mirror), the Reds still have a chance to sign the forward, although the Ligue 1 side want the player's future sorted in the next two weeks.
As noted by Domin, Liverpool appeared on the brink of completing a switch for Fekir earlier this summer, but the £53 million move collapsed after the France international had a medical with the Anfield club.
Get French Football News provided more information on the situation:
Fekir has been part of the France squad in recent weeks, helping the team win the FIFA World Cup in Russia. The Lyon man was regularly used as a substitute by manager Didier Deschamps, making six appearances from the bench, including a cameo in the final itself.
The 24-year-old earned a spot in the 23-man group after an outstanding season for Lyon. Fekir netted an impressive 18 goals for the side in the top flight and set up another eight goals for team-mates too.
The verve and incision he brings to a team unsurprisingly attracted the attention of Liverpool. As noted by writer Ben Webb, the interest in the playmaker has supporters excited:
It's why there was so much disappointment when the initial deal collapsed after Fekir's medical, as the Lyon man is someone who would be ideal to slot into Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool setup.
Last season he played as a centre-forward, a split striker and in wider roles too.
If Liverpool were able to get him in alongside the devastating triumvirate of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, they would be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Reds supporters will have their hopes fuelled by these latest reports. In addition, as noted by French football writer Jeremy Smith, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas hasn't been too bullish about the prospect of Fekir staying at Lyon beyond the summer:
Having seen Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri arrive at the club already in this window, Liverpool have enjoyed a prosperous summer to this point. Fekir's addition would really lift spirits ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, though.
At present, the deal doesn't yet seem to be dead, but time is running out for all parties with the transfer deadline pushed forward for Premier League clubs this season. After winning the World Cup, a big-money move to Liverpool would put the gloss on a remarkable spell in Fekir's career.