Real Madrid may have appointed a new manager, but the Spanish giant is yet to make a splash in the transfer window so far. However, the club appears to be after a highly-rated Ligue 1 star this summer.
That man is none other than Nabil Fekir, the Frenchman who is sought after by several top clubs in Europe. The Lyon ace was previously thought to be headed to Liverpool, but that move collapsed and now other teams are keen on exploiting that outcome.
This was as revealed by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who confirmed Los Blancos’ interest in the 24-year-old. He also opened up about why a move to Anfield infamously fell apart for the playmaker.
Speaking to RT France, Aulas said: "At [one] stage it was foreseen he would go to Liverpool, I had given it the green light for it to go ahead.
“But it just took too long, things were just too drawn out.
“He is an exceptional player, he keeps the ball in little space and has an incredible talent.
“The fact that things didn’t conclude with Liverpool and it didn’t happen in that time-frame has peaked the interest of a lot of other clubs, Real Madrid – but not just Real Madrid – and their new trainer.
“There is a lot of interest from other camps, so everything is possible.”
This move by the Lyon president could be interpreted as an attempt to spark a bidding war. That would be warranted, however, after Fekir’s stellar 2017/18 campaign in which he scored 23 goals in all competitions.
A couple of issues could derail Fekir’s mega-money switch. Firstly, he has a history of knee injuries. Secondly, his $89m price tag could put off a lot of suitors.
Regardless, a move could still happen. As for now, the player is concentrated on the World Cup. He is in Deschamps’ squad in Russia and is hoping to help Les Bleus win the title for the second time.
