Liverpool are reportedly in the driver’s seat to land Nabil Fekir, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Arsenal this summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet El Gol Digital, Nabil Fekir appears set to leave Real Betis in the summer transfer window. The 28-year-old French international is the subject of interest from Liverpool and Arsenal, with the Reds leading the race to secure his services.
Nabil Fekir joined Real Betis from Lyon in the summer of 2019 and has since been an exceptional performer in La Liga. A mainstay in attack for the Andalusian club, the Frenchman has racked up 71 appearances at Estadio Benito Villamarin while chipping in with 12 goals and 13 assists.
The 28-year-old, though, is keen on leaving Real Betis this summer to join a bigger club in a bid to regain his lost place in the French national squad heading into next year’s World Cup in Qatar. The player does indeed have suitors in the form of big-name clubs, with Liverpool and Arsenal showing an interest in him.
Liverpool hold a long-standing interest in Fekir, having infamously been on the verge of signing him in 2018 before the move was called off at the eleventh hour. Heading into this summer’s transfer window, the Reds’ interest in the French international has reignited, and for good reason, as they are yet to fill the void left by the departure of Georginio Wijnaldum.
To that end, Liverpool have been linked with several midfielders, including Renato Sanches, Florian Neuhaus and Houssem Aouar, among others. In Fekir, though, Liverpool will have a player who can add a glut of goals from midfield while providing some much-needed creativity as well. As for Arsenal, they need to sign a replacement for Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian international was an instant hit at the Emirates after arriving from Real Madrid on loan in January. However, Arsenal stand no chance of signing him permanently this summer, with James Maddison one of the alternatives identified by the Gunners. And Fekir is now a viable target as well for Arsenal.
The north Londoners, though, are currently falling behind in the race to sign the Frenchman, who is closer to joining Liverpool than Arsenal. However, signing Fekir will cost a pretty penny, with a valuation in the range of €40 million being mentioned.
Liverpool do have Champions League football on offer, which ought to make them an even more appealing destination. What now remains to be seen is if they are ready to pay €40 million to land Fekir or if Arsenal produce such an offer to tempt Real Betis to sell the 28-year-old to them.
