Liverpool have identified their main summer transfer target.
According to several reports, the club is seeking a replacement for Philippe Coutinho and are set to try sign Nabil Fekir after Saturday’s Champions League final.
The Lyon captain can play as an attacking midfielder or as part of the front line – like former Liverpool star Coutinho, who left Anfield for Barcelona in January in a transfer worth a potential £142m.
Fekir, who turns 25 in July, has impressed for his club over the past year.
He scored 23 goals in 39 games last season and will be part of France’s squad for the World Cup next month.
Liverpool will step up move for Lyon’s Nabil Fekir after CL final.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) May 24, 2018
Nabil Fekir is Liverpool’s number one transfer target this summer. Talks underway
— Jason Burt (@JBurtTelegraph) May 24, 2018
Fekir is expected to cost €70m (£61m) and Liverpool are said to be keen on completing the transfer before the World Cup begins on June 14.
Jurgen Klopp did not sign a replacement for Coutinho when he departed in January and it appears Fekir is the ideal choice to fill the void left by the Brazilian. Liverpool are expected to lose Emre Can to Juventus on a free transfer but will be reinforced in midfield by the arrival of Naby Keita from Red Bull Leipzig.
Fekir looks like a potentially excellent signing and will add much-needed quality to Liverpool’s midfield should the transfer be completed. The Frenchman was asked by RTL if there was a chance he could join Liverpool’s interest, and replied: “Why not?”
