Transfer Centre

Nabil Fekir deal 'unlikely before World Cup'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 28 May 2018

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas insists that he has not given up hope of keeping Nabil Fekir at the club this summer despite speculation linking him with Liverpool.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted that Nabil Fekir still "has a future" with the club despite speculation that he is close to joining Liverpool.

The 24-year-old has been strongly linked with a £60m move to Anfield this summer as a replacement for Philippe Coutinho, who left to join Barcelona in January, although last week Fekir revealed that he is "not close" to making a decision over his future.

Aulas has now also suggested that there have been no discussions with Liverpool and hinted that any deal would most likely take place after this summer's World Cup in Russia.

"There is no information contrary to what I mentioned in the last match. Nabil Fekir has a past at Olympique Lyonnais. He has a future," Aulas told the club's official website.

"We always try to go in the direction of the players. We will listen carefully. I will be at the match tonight where he will play with the France team. It is a great pride for us to have a pure talent of selection training. We will probably know more after the World Cup. But for the moment, he is from Lyon and we are very proud of him.

"I do not have an appointment with the leaders of Liverpool. There is no urgency at all. We are perfectly serene. If Nabil wants to play the Champions League in Groupama Stadium next year, we will be delighted."

Fekir has scored 23 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions for Lyon this season.