Liverpool could revive the Nabil Fekir deal and Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to have an alternative playmaker target up his sleeve, according to a Sky Sports journalist.
Correspondent Dharmesh Sheth told the broadcaster’s transfer talk podcast on 19 June (4:45 and 8:17) that the Merseysiders will not have given up hope of signing the France international.
His club Lyon released a statement earlier this month to reveal talks with Liverpool had broken down and the 24-year-old would remain with them next season.
“The deal was most definitely on and almost done. Could it be revived? Potentially,” Sheth told the podcast.
“Liverpool are one of the few clubs that go for a player and, if it doesn’t work out, they wait. Jurgen Klopp was so adamant over Virgil van Dijk that he waited after the hoo-ha of last summer.
“It wouldn’t surprise me, if there is a chance this Fekir deal can be revived, that he won’t go for anyone else.”
OPINION
Sheth’s insight into Klopp’s stance on the Fekir deal is intriguing. Not only are Liverpool still keen to revive the deal – albeit more likely at a cheaper price than originally agreed with Lyon – but the manager might not have a plan B for the playmaker role. Certainly, Liverpool need a number 10 who can dictate the play in the way that Philippe Coutinho once did. Manchester City were unstoppable last season because of the variety of their attacking options and their ability to dismantle any defence. Liverpool were also devastating at times, but could be denied when their potent front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were quelled. Fekir would provide some more magic dust and ensure it is spread more evenly. The likelihood is, as Sheth points out, that Klopp’s stance is ‘Fekir – or no-one’. He might also bide his time over getting the Frenchman until Lyon are willing to negotiate at a reduced price due to the player’s history of knee trouble.
