Liverpool close in on £53m deal for Fekir
LIVERPOOL are on the brink of completing a £53million deal to make Nabil Fekir their second signing of the summer.
The France international has been Jurgen Klopp’s main summer target as he believes the forward can be the ideal long-term replacement for Philippe Coutinho.
liverpool’s boss wanted the deal with lyon wrapped up before the World Cup, as does France manager Didier Deschamps, whose side face the united States in their final warm-up game tomorrow.
lyon had taken a tough stance, with president Jean-Michel Aulas indicating that negotiations had reached a standstill. ‘We have not set a base price because we have not discussed this yet,’ said Aulas.
However, liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards has remained in discussions in an attempt to push the deal through and members of liverpool’s medical team are standing by to fly to France to complete a medical.
Should there be no complications, Fekir, who scored 23 goals for lyon last season and was watched by Manchester City representatives at a Europa league game against Everton, would become the third player costing more than £50m liverpool have signed in the space of eight months, following Naby Keita, £52.5m from Rb leipzig, and Virgil van Dijk, £75m from Southampton.
It would also take their summer spending close to £100m after their initial purchase of Brazil midfielder Fabinho from Monaco.
Klopp also wants to sign roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who would cost a world-record fee for a player in his position. If the Italian club show a willingness to do business liverpool would move swiftly for the Brazil No 1, who is also coveted by real Madrid.
The German wants all new arrivals in place before liverpool start pre-season training on July 2. He does not want to end up in a position like last season when they ran out of attacking options. It explains why he is considering a move for Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri, who has a £12m release clause in his contract. OVIE Ejaria hopes his loan move to rangers can earn him a place in liverpool’s first team. rangers manager Steven Gerrard used his Anfield connections to seal a season-long loan for the 20-year-old midfielder. And Ejaria wants to use his time in Glasgow to show Klopp he can become a Premier league star.