Liverpool transfer news: Reds 'were prepared to risk signing Nabil Fekir' – claims

Posted Saturday, June 30, 2018 by Express.co.uk

Liverpool transfer news: Reds 'were prepared to risk signing Nabil Fekir' – claims
Nabil Fekir: Liverpool were initially prepared to take a risk in signing the forward

LIVERPOOL were prepared to proceed with signing Nabil Fekir despite concerns surrounding his medical.

That's according to Liverpool Echo journalist James Pearce.

Fekir's switch to Anfield spectacularly fell through at the beginning of June after it emerged there was an issue with the Frenchman's medical.

It was understood that Liverpool were unhappy with how his ACL injury had been repaired three years ago and were concerned about a potential recurrence of the problem.

But despite the concern, Liverpool were initially prepared to take a risk with the Lyon forward.

"My information initially was that despite getting the second opinion that Liverpool were going to push ahead with the deal," Pearce said in an interview with Liverpool fansite The Redmen TV.

"I think it was on that on that Friday and there was there's even talk of a 5pm announcement.

"They'd done the medical on the Thursday, the staff had flown out to Paris to do it and then announcement Friday afternoon.

"They were seeking a second opinion on his knee but initially the word was that it wasn't going to scupper the deal.

"Then you get the delays in the announcement and you start to think that something has obviously gone awry here and then to the point where you find out that they don't intend to proceed with it.

"I think there was a bit of indecision on Liverpool's part 'do we go ahead and do this, do we not?'.

"Obviously that weekend was when Fekir was joining up with the France squad I think they knew that timescale wise if it was going to happen before the World Cup, that was when it had to happen.

"Like most things with transfers it can be pretty murky you know Liverpool say they didn't try to renegotiate the deal after the medical issues were flagged up.

"Sources in France say that they did try to renegotiate the structure of the deal. [Jean-Michel] Aulas wouldn't accept that so that was why that led to his announcement on the Saturday."