Fekir the Latest Man to Arrive at Anfield?
Liverpool suffered huge disappointment in the Champions League final, losing 3-1 to Real Madrid. The way in which the defeat unfolded was cruel and left a bitter taste in the mouth of Liverpool fans.
However, the club have moved quickly in the transfer market to boost their team for next season and have signed the midfield duo of Naby Keita and Fabinho. The former was always going to join having agreed a deal before the end of the season but the move for Fabinho came as a pleasant surprise.
Fekir Linked with Liverpool
If recent transfer rumours are anything to go by, there could be more players coming in to Anfield before the start of the World Cup and the latest man to be strongly linked with the club is Nabil Fekir.
The 24 year old Frenchman currently plays his football for Lyon in Ligue 1 and helped guide them to a third place finish and Champions League football next season. Lyon were the second highest goal scorers in the league and Fekir ended the season with 18 league goals, finishing just 1 goal off Memphis Depay, who was the clubs’ top scorer.
Not only did Fekir score 18 goals, he ended the season with 7 assists and would provide added competition to the front three currently playing at Liverpool.
When Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool for Barcelona, Jurgen Klopp did not replace the Brazilian and perhaps that backfired in the Champions League final when Mohamed Salah was forced off with a shoulder injury.
Adam Lallana came onto the pitch, a player who has been struggling himself with injury and failed to make an impact. Having a player of Fekir’s quality to come onto the pitch in Kiev could have made all the difference.
Big Transfer Fee
The reported fee for Fekir is said to be around £60 million and if that’s true, it would make the Frenchman the second most expensive signing in the history of Liverpool Football Club. Only Virgil van Dijk cost more when he joined in January. If Liverpool were to spend big again in such quick succession, it would be a real sign of their intent to close the gap on Manchester City and Manchester United next season.
Fekir is a versatile forward and can play several positions, including the number 10 role which he has enjoyed for Lyon this season. Fekir’s control, vision and passing make him an attacking midfield threat which Liverpool are currently missing. He could be the man to break down stubborn defences, something which Liverpool have been struggling with in recent years.
In addition to creativity, Fekir provides a goal scoring threat and is dangerous from free-kicks. The Frenchman scored some lovely goals from free-kicks last season and would bring something extra to set-pieces between 20 and 30 yards from goal.
Fekir is a player who is developing onto a top talent but Liverpool must act fast if they are to get their man, with other clubs circling.