Lyon Manager Keeps Nabil Fekir Liverpool Transfer Dream Alive

Liverpool’s attempts to sign Nabil Fekir looked to have ended last month after the deal appeared to break down over presumed concerns about the player’s knee that would have been revealed at the medical Liverpool performed after agreeing terms with Lyon.

And yet, ever since, it’s been hard to go a week without news coming out of France that would appear to keep the deal alive. Even while everything from the English side continues to point to it being very much otherwise. And so, to no surprise. here we are again.

“He has expressed his desire to play at another level,” Lyon manager Bruno Gensio told French journalists during a break in pre-season training. “We need to set a date. If there is a possibility, like with Liverpool, Nabil will seize the opportunity if both parties agree.”

Both parties agreeing seems anything but a sure thing given all parties seemed to have agreed already—and Fekir had even completed his reveal videos in full Liverpool kit—before it all broke down a month ago. Here we are again, though, talking about Fekir to Liverpool.

It seems unlikely Liverpool would return for the player when, based on all reliable reports from journalists with ties to the club, it was Liverpool who walked in the first place. Yet if there wasn’t still a chance, it’s difficult to imagine Gensio saying things like this now.

“I am working under the assumption that he will stay with us,” the Lyon manager added. “He wants to take the next step [and] the president has offered him the chance to leave. We will see after the World Cup. If Nabil is here, it makes my job easier.

“I would be happy to keep him. I think he is looking at two possibilities: to stay to play the Champions League with us or to leave to join a bigger club.”