Liverpool transfer news: Llorente linked while Lyon confirm Fekir exit plans
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed club captain Nabil Fekir will be allowed to leave this summer.
The France international was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool last summer but any deal was scuppered by fears over a knee problem.
Fekir set for Liverpool? Five key things to know…
- Nabil Fekir was linked with a move to Liverpool last summer.
- But fears over a knee problem put an end to any deal in the works.
- According to reports, Liverpool are interested in revisiting Fekir this summer.
- And they have been boosted by Lyon’s president revealing Fekir will be allowed to leave this summer.
- The Reds have also been linked with Real Sociedad centre-back Diego Llorente, whose Wikipedia page claims a deal has been done.
But the Reds are reportedly once again interested in bringing the Frenchman to Anfield this summer, as they look to bolster their squad in key areas in order to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League next year.
Jurgen Klopp’s side finished one point behind the eventual champions on 97 points, and lost just one game – a record which would have seen them win the Premier League in 25 of the 27 previous campaigns.
And Liverpool appear to have been given a boost in their quest to sign Fekir, with Lyon president Aulas revealing their captain can leave in the summer.
“Effectively, Nabil is outside [of the two departures expected], because we have an understanding that he can go,” he told reporters.
“Thanks, Nabil for bringing what he brought, we have an understanding to let him go.”
Fekir has just one year remaining on his present Lyon deal, which could play a role in the club looking to cash in on their captain now, rather than risk losing him for free next summer.
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The 25-year-old is not the only Lyon player being linked with a move away from the club, with Memphis Depay also reportedly a target of Liverpool.
But Aulas is determined on keeping the key outgoings to a minimum, while also strengthening the Lyon squad.
“We will work on making signings,” he added. “We are going to try to lose as few players as possible. We are also going to strengthen.
“We are quickly going to have it out with [new sporting director] Juninho and [head coach] Sylvinho.”
Diego Llorente on his way to Liverpool?
Fekir is not the only new player being linked with a move to Liverpool. According to Basque newspaper Noticias de Gipuzkoa, centre-back Diego Llorente is set to leave Real Sociedad this summer, with the club looking to recuperate £25m.
Though Liverpool have the titan Virgil van Dijk at the back, the Dutchman is yet to find a consistent partner from Klopp’s other options. Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren have all been tried but the trio have been hit by injuries across the 2018/19 season.
As a result, Liverpool have been linked with a new centre-back, with Llorente joining Matthijs de Ligt on Klopp’s target list.
And if the trust-worthy source of the player’s Wikipedia is to be believed, Liverpool have already got their man, with Llorente set to wear the no.16 jersey previously donned by stars such as Marko Grujic, Sebastian Coates, Conor Coady and Sotiris Kyrgiakos.
