Liverpool’s signing of Fabinho earlier this summer would have given many fans a lot of excitement ahead of the transfer window this year but the way the club has dealt with the signing of Nabil Fekir from AS Lyon has once again frustrated the Anfield faithful. The French international was targeted as a replacement for Philippe Coutinho, who left the club in January.
And reports claimed that Liverpool have all but completed his signature, with the player also undergoing a medical for the Reds. However, an old issue in his scans during the medical has seen Liverpool reluctant to meet his price tag, which has annoyed the French club. Lyon have now announced that Fekir will stay at the club next season, and though Liverpool may yet be able to land him, it might be time for them to look at alternatives. Here are 3 such players Liverpool should target in place of Fekir:
Hakim Ziyech (Ajax):
One of the most exciting stars in the Dutch league at the moment, Ziyech is slowly turning into a superstar in Europe. He registered nine goals and 15 assists in the domestic league in the Netherlands last season and is as gifted as Fekir is. He can play a more defensive role but is equally effective at the other end and his style of play suits Liverpool’s system pretty well. He is an all-around player, who will add balance to this Liverpool side and could be a genuine match winner next season in England.
Julian Draxler (PSG):
A transfer target for the Reds from over a year ago, Draxler has struggled with game time under Unai Emery at PSG last season. Though the French giants now have Thomas Tuchel as their manager, Draxler is unsettled and could be ready to move to England this summer. He is technically gifted and as established as Fekir and his exploits with the national side shows that he is one of the best midfielders in the game at the moment. His dribbling and close control are mesmerizing and he is as good an option as any to replace Coutinho in the long run.
Thomas Lemar (AS Monaco):
Another French star Liverpool can target in place of Fekir is Lemar. The 22-year old was pretty close to joining Liverpool last summer and even in January but the Ligue 1 outfit managed to retain him for another season. They have slapped a price tag of close to £90m on his services, which is a tad too steep for the English giants. He is not as established as Fekir but has the potential to become a superstar in the future and can be a decent acquisition for the Reds.
