Transfer news: Nabil Fekir could be a fantastic signing for Liverpool
By Tommy Adams
Lyon’s Nabil Fekir has recently been linked with a potential transfer to Liverpool during this summer’s transfer window. The French midfielder could prove to be a fantastic signing for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Recent reports have suggested that Liverpool are quite keen on a making a move for Lyon’s Nabil Fekir this summer. The Frenchman could soon be the first on the list to join RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita for Liverpool’s summer arrivals. While he may not be on the top of Klopp’s transfer targets list, Liverpool could definitely benefit from Nabil Fekir’s services.
In midfield, Fekir could be given plenty of licenses to play in his preferred attacking role with Keita and Jordan Henderson deployed just behind him as holding or box-to-box midfielders. With the likely departure of Emre Can to Juventus, this also means that there will be more opportunity in Liverpool’s midfield.
At the moment it is running quite thin due to the injuries to Adam Lallana and Can. Fekir could also compliment Klopp’s preference to have Liverpool play with a high press. He could potentially sit just behind Roberto Firmino as an attacking midfielder in between Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Here’s how Liverpool’s lineup could potentially look with Fekir:
GK Karius – RB Clyne/Arnold – CB van Dijk – CB Lovren – LB Robertson
CM Naby Keita – CM Jordan Henderson
LW – Salah – CAM Fekir – RW Mane
ST Firmino
He’s got the numbers to show how good he’s been
Fekir has had quite an impressive campaign for Lyon this season. He has scored 22 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions from a total of 38 appearances. It’s a drastic improvement upon his 2016/2017 season where he had 14 goals and 12 assists from 49 appearances.
The majority of his goals and assists have come in Ligue 1, in which Lyon could clinch a Champions League spot this weekend with a win at Strasbourg, given AS Monaco and/or Marseille drop points.
It’s no secret that Liverpool’s best form of defense is their relentless attack. Fekir would add to that firepower with the number of chances he can create. Per WhoScored, Fekir has been averaging 3 shots per match and 2 key passes in Ligue 1 this season. He creates at least more than once chance per match. This is a savory statistic when you think of having him alongside Mane, Salah, and Firmino.
Next: Liverpool can hit new heights next season
A minor [or major] speed-bump in the transfer process
Per the Express, both Fekir and his father have denied claims that there’s already been contact between Liverpool and the midfielder’s representatives. They say that he plans on staying in Lyon. Fekir’s father was particularly quick to deny the suggestions:
"Nabil in Liverpool, that’s wrong. I hear there are arrangements, stuff like that, I was surprised. I can deny this information right now, it’s not true. Otherwise, Nabil would have told me right away, we are very close. I can guarantee you that he never met him [Klopp]. His dream is to play in the Champions League with his boyhood club."