Revealed: how it was Liverpool and not Lyon that pulled out of £53m Fekir deal

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The jury promises to remain out for some time over why exactly Liverpool’s proposed deal for Nabil Fekir fell through.

A move to Anfield for the Frenchman was rocked on Saturday evening when Lyon released a statement claiming negotiations with Liverpool had ended.

This followed a busy Friday in which Fekir had been expected to be announced as a Red following the agreement of personal terms and a £53million fee.

An image leaked on social media even depicted Fekir taking part in an interview with Liverpool’s official club website in preparation for his unveiling.

Concerns raised by Liverpool in his medical over a long-term knee injury sustained in 2015 evidently proved a hindrance in efforts to complete the transfer.

The New York Times’ chief football correspondent Rory Smith has claimed that the club subsequently withdrew from talks.

Nabil Fekir

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Breaking: Lyon say Nabil Fekir will stay as negotiations over £53m Liverpool move end

Meanwhile, the Times’ Paul Joyce has explained how Liverpool pulled out of the deal having failed in their attempts to renegotiate the deal in response to results of Fekir’s medical.

Immediate criticism towards Liverpool’s scouting department seems unfairly rash in light of the enormity of the 24-year-old’s fee.

It seems only logical to seek a restructured deal given the potential consequences an underlying fitness problem could have on such a high-profile business decision.

Fekir’s desire to make the switch to Merseyside and the lengths he went to in the process of signing suggests there could yet be another twist.

That said, any revived negotiations seem unlikely to take place until after the World Cup.

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