Liverpool’s respected journalists have confirmed what their colleagues in France reported a few weeks ago: that Nabil Fekir is more than likely Anfield bound.
The 24-year-old, rated between £60m and £70m, was jaw-dropping for Lyon in 2017/18, scoring 23 goals from the no.10 position and masterminding their passage into next season’s Champions League.
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Every big journo confirms mega Liverpool transfer news
Liverpool refused to buy a Coutinho replacement in January, with no appropriate options presenting themselves, but it appears Fekir is the selected candidate.
Jurgen Klopp has discussed the transfer market, suggesting a few top players will arrive.
Interestingly, he mentions the current lack of a creative no.8 in midfield since Coutinho’s exit – speculating as to how dangerous we’d be if we still had that option behind the Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
This is where Fekir’s going to slot in, Reds.
“What do we do? We brought in Naby Keita already, an outstanding player. We will bring in a couple more players, that will happen,” he told the Mirror.
“We played without Adam Lallana and half a season without Philippe Coutinho. Two of the best players in whole Premier League. They didn’t play on the pitch for us. Can you imagine Phil Coutinho still in the team? And we play with the three up front and Phil at No.8, that would have been nice…”
Liverpool don’t play with a natural no.10, but with a 4-3-3 formation that allows a more creative, freer no.8 to start, so long as the other two midfielders are disciplined and he puts in his fair share of work as well.
Fekir has all these attributes, and the thought of him lining up alongside Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson centrally is a very, very exciting one!