Nabil Fekir appears to be edging ever closer to the exit door at Lyon amid speculation heavily linking him with a move to Liverpool.
Whether it be Anfield or another destination that awaits him, the Frenchman is expected to play his final game for the club when they host Nice on Saturday evening.
Conflicting rumours have entailed suggestions a deal has already been agreed as well as claims that there is yet to be official contact between the player and Liverpool officials.
The influx of French journalists indicating advanced negotiations has evoked optimism among Reds, despite local reporters seeming less convinced.
Lyon coach Bruno Genesio has fuelled the fire by admitting ‘some’ of his men may be making their final appearances this weekend.
“He told olweb.fr : “We have to put aside everything related to emotion.”
“For some, this may be the last game. It must give [those players] even more strength because you have to say: ‘[I] leave by helping this team qualify for the Champions League’.”
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“There is also the World Cup. The very great players are able to ignore all this and I think Nabil will play a big match on Saturday.”
“It’s a final. It must be won. We only control our match and not the rest. We must tackle that.”
It remains to be seen whether the acquisition of Fekir would represent Jurgen Klopp’s replacement for Philippe Coutinho, with the Ligue 1 star boasting a versatility as both an attacking midfielder and a potential alternative for Roberto Firmino.
His 23 goals in all competitions this season somewhat justify the latter and hint towards a logical signing in light of Liverpool’s need for greater strength in both positions.
Meanwhile, the club continues to be linked to Borussia Dortmund’s teenager sensation Christian Pulisic, who also possesses the traits to fill the Coutinho-shaped void.
Klopp’s likely war-chest makes for a busy summer of incomings on Merseyside.