Sanjay Nair explains why Nabil Fekir is not as urgent a signing as many Liverpool fans believe heading into the final days of the summer transfer window.
Nabil Fekir… A name that has been on every Liverpool fan’s lips since the end of last season.
An excellent player with a great attitude to match the way he can invigorate or rile up a crowd – he was viewed as the final cog in the revolution that Jürgen Klopp’s era at Anfield is shaping up to be.
Well, at least as far as the 2018/19 season was concerned it seemed. A dodgy knee that showed up during the medical has put that transfer to bed, or so one would think.
As much as this has been disappointing, the real question that arises is ‘Are we really desperate for a Nabil Fekir right now?’ From what we have seen so far of Liverpool’s pre-season, I should think not.
The argument against the need for him at this moment will again revolve around reasons similar to that I stated in arguing why Henderson will find it hard to fit into this new side.
A resurgent and fit Daniel Sturridge and the addition of Xherdan Shaqiri has really boosted our midfield options. Oft said but never an understatement, the importance of a fit Sturridge to this Liverpool side is always a boon.
On his day, he has proved to be scintillating and devastating in attack and his confidence at the moment will be sky high. Also, any player who scores a goal such as Shaqiri did on his debut will be absolutely raring to go and prove his doubters wrong.
An experienced Premier League campaigner, he will get to work under a manager who will definitely bring out wonderful things in him, especially in terms of work rate. If Klopp decides to start with either of these players alongside Firmino and Salah, Sadio Mané can be pushed behind them into the proposed Fekir role that he will only be too happy to take up.
Mané reveled in that position during this Southampton and can prove to be sensational with the additional amount of freedom he will have.
Another option at the disposal of Klopp will be the young Curtis Jones, who has been another of the standout performers during the pre-season tour. An intelligent player who is tremendous on the ball as well as being a good passer, Jones has impressed many with his footballing brain and calmness when thrown in with the big boys.
The fact that he is so young might be the only thing working against him at this moment. Add Ben Woodburn, about whom Klopp was in immense praise of recently, and Lallana to this mix and it does appear that we have in our hands, a fair amount of creativity and talent already available.
Yes, Nabil Fekir has proved himself at the highest level already and Liverpool could still sign him or even Christian Pulisic before the end of the transfer window.
However, there does not seem to be a desperation around it, since we have the luxury of opting not to and still not be found wanting. A sign of better times, surely.
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