OPINION
Liverpool should definitely take note of former France defender Willy Sagnol’s damning assessment of Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir.
Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira has reported this summer that Liverpool have revived their interested in signing Fekir after originally trying to lure him to Anfield from Lyon last year.
Jurgen #Klopp has reignited his interest in Nabil #Fekir and he would buy him from #OlympiqueLyon. Aulas wants for his player €50M at least. #Liverpool have offered to Fekir a contract until 2024 by €4M at year. #transfers #LFC
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) June 13, 2019
However speaking to RMC Sport, Sagnol has ripped the attacker to shreds and suggested why it might be wise of Jurgen Klopp to avoid striking a big-money deal for the France international this summer.
“They have to take the armband off him and put him on the bench if he doesn’t want to play,” Sagnol said. “They did the same with [Yoann] Gourcuff.
“They want players who are eight out of ten all the time. That is not the case with Fekir.”
This is quite the criticism from Sagnol, who has clearly outlined his views on whether he thinks Fekir is good enough to stay at Lyon and make more of a name for himself. And he is exactly right. While Fekir has obvious talent, he does not show it enough.
The World Cup winner made 29 appearances in Ligue 1 last season, scoring nine goals and assisting seven others. But that is a poor record if you look at the 2017/18 season, in which he scored 18 and set up seven more in one more league match.
After the 2017/18 season, it was clear to see why Liverpool were so heavily linked with a move for Fekir. He is a dynamic attacking midfielder who ticks all of Jurgen Klopp’s boxes in a player for that position. But after the most recent campaign, Reds fans should not be so sure.
As Sagnol says, there are times when it looks like Fekir does not want to turn up, and for Liverpool, doing that is simply not an option. You need full commitment to every minute of every game if you want to play for the current Liverpool side, and there is a chance they would not get that now.
There is also no doubt that Liverpool definitely need another attacking midfielder, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be like a new signing next season if he can hit the ground running. And he could be the one to fill that gap.
Overall, Sagnol makes some very insightful comments about Fekir that show that after all, the 25-year-old may not be all that he is cracked up to be as a player.
