:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59995391/621293056.jpg.0.jpg)
He’s coming. Nabil Fekir is due to lean on some things any moment now. The transfer saga (or at least it’s felt like a saga relative to Fabinho suddenly appearing at Liverpool) seems to have drawn to a happy conclusion with a rumoured £52.8m deal struck with Lyon for their star player.
With Fekir joining Naby Keïta and Fabinho in a brand-spanking new midfield with June barely even begun, the continued display of awe-inspiring transfer prowess by Sporting Director, Michael Edwards succeeded in sending Liverpool fans into rapture:
Michael Edwards deserves a statue at Anfield. Getting Nabil Fekir for £48m+ is another steal of the sunner after Mo Salah
— Anfieldster (@fakescouserLFC) June 7, 2018
Not all heroes wear capes; Michael Edwards is my bloody hero! #Fekir #Keita #Fabinho #LFC
— Kieron (@boybaileyspeaks) June 7, 2018
Michael Edwards in negotiations this summer pic.twitter.com/xjtPJVXOfm
— (@UsmanA__) June 7, 2018
Many were quick to notice that despite losing arguably their best player in Philippe Coutinho in January, Liverpool have actually managed to get better from the attacking standpoint with a nominal net spend:
We sold Coutinho for £142m.
— MATCHDAY BANNERS LFC DESIGNS (@YouNameItPSD) June 7, 2018
We have bought:
Nabil Fekir: £52.8m
Naby Keita: £52m
Fabinho: £43m
Total: £148.5m
We’ve basically sold Coutinho for a much upgraded midfield for £6.5m. Give Michael Edwards a statue.
Selling Coutinho has paid for a whole new midfield in Fekir, Fabinho & Keita. That's crazy good business.
— Brad_LFC (@Brad_LFC7) June 7, 2018
Since taking over transfer dealings not even two years ago, Edwards has partnered with Klopp’s scouting team to develop a devastating transfer strategy that has revamped an unbalanced and thin squad in a shockingly small amount of time:
This time last year, LFC's 5 Most Expensive read: Carroll, Benteke, Mane, Firmino, Lallana.
— NTX (@NTXabi) June 7, 2018
It now reads: Virgil, Naby, Fekir, Fabinho, Salah.
How we invested the Torres money: Carroll
— Josh (@LFCJosh23) June 7, 2018
How we invested the Suarez money: Markovic, Balotelli, Lallana, Lambert
How we invested the Coutinho money: Fabinho, Keita, Fekir
The club has learned.
The rumoured £48.4m fee plus £4m in add ons said to be agreed for Fekir not only represents a steal in the modern inflated market but also stands in ironic contrast to the £45m Everton are said to have paid for the underwhelming Gylfi Sigurdsson last summer.
Thoughts and prayers with Everton football club
— 〽️ (@Riddock__) June 7, 2018
They have paid more for SIGURDSSON than we have for FEKIR #LFC pic.twitter.com/RkjgwLUJDR
Furthermore—as if these moves to date needed any more spinning—the three incoming midfielders would seem to solve Liverpool’s longstanding search for end product from their engine room since the retirement of Steven Gerrard.
Nabil Fekir: 23 goals & 8 assists in 40 games
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) June 7, 2018
Naby Keita: 9 goals & 7 assists in 39 games
Fabinho: 8 goals & 5 assists in 46 games
Buckle up, Red fans.
The net spend boys will be quiet tonight
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) September 16, 2016