As club presidents go, Lyon’s Jean-Michel Aulas is up there with the most vocal.
Aulas has effectively provided us with a running commentary of Liverpool’s much-publicised summer pursuit of attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir and his latest update arrived this weekend.
A deal for Fekir was almost completed prior to the World Cup but Liverpool pulled the plug following the player’s medical.
A fee of €55 million plus €5 million in add-ons had been agreed for the France international, who reportedly gave an interview to Liverpool’s website before he set off for Russia.
But despite the fact that Liverpool suddenly walked away from the deal, they maintain an interest in the 25-year-old and it remains entirely possible that they will return with another offer before the transfer window closes.
That’s looking increasingly unlikely, however, as Lyon’s interview-happy president has set the Reds a deadline to get the deal done and has now revealed that there’s less than a 10 per cent chance that Fekir leaves this summer.
“I do not think that Fekir will leave,” Aulas told Canal+.
“He’s one of the best in France – and in the world, since he’s a world champion. He’s a Lyonnais [player], so he’ll be there next season.
“Although in football, nothing is ever certain. I haven’t had the impression that he absolutely wants to leave.
“He’s 90 per cent [certain] going to be at Lyon next season. If he hasn’t left by the end of July, he’ll stay.
“It’s not the size of the offer that will make us change our position on Fekir, but the wishes of Nabil himself.”
The reason Liverpool hesitated on the deal in the first place might offer some more understanding.
