Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern are gutted following the collapse of a transfer that our punters would have been the signing of the summer.
The Reds’ summer recruitment drive was in full flow following their defeat to Real Madrid in the final of the Champions League. Naby Keita’s £52m move from RB Leipzig was already official while Jurgen Klopp secured the signature of Monaco’s Fabinho in a £40m deal; under the noses of rivals Manchester United. Lyon captain, Nabil Fekir, was believed to be their next signing.
Despite agreeing on a fee and conducting interviews with the club, the deal collapsed following concerns about Fekir’s long-term fitness. For £53m, it’s unlikely that Liverpool would rekindle their interest after cancelling proceedings. Instead, they must look at other options – West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini was thought to be a target before injuring his ACL.
The perfect alternative would be Sporting Lisbon midfielder – Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese joined the club last summer from Sampdoria and hit the ground running in his homeland. He ended the season with 16 goals and 20 assists in all competitions which has attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs. His performances have seen his market value increase to £18m according to Transfermarkt.
Fernandes can play attacking midfield or central midfield making him the ideal for Klopp’s 4-3-3 counter-attacking system – he is a more natural number eight than Fekir. Alongside Keita and Fabinho, he could prove to be a stellar signing. At just 23-years-old, he is still developing and under Klopp’s tutelage, would become an even better player.
Landing Fernandes would certainly soften the blow of missing out on Fekir. As a Liverpool player, Fernandes might even have a higher ceiling than Fekir ever would too.
Liverpool fans, thoughts?
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