Nabil Fekir completes interesting deadline day transfer six years after failed Liverpool move

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Liverpool endured a very quiet transfer deadline day, failing to add to their existing incoming business.

The Reds signed just two players during this summer, with one of those not arriving for another year at least.

That they didn’t bring in any more was not for a lack of trying, of course. Liverpool thought they had secured Martin Zubimendi, but the Spaniard went back on his word to stay at Real Sociedad.

Failure to land Zubimendi had some faint echoes of a previous time Liverpool tried to sign a midfielder from his boyhood club.

Rewind six years and one of the most infamous episodes in the Reds’ transfer history took place. Somehow, Nabil Fekir did not end up as a Liverpool player. Over half a decade on and Fekir has now been on the move once again.

Nabil Fekir leaves Real Betis

Exactly what went on with Fekir’s collapsed move to Liverpool in 2018 will perhaps never become clear.

Some have claimed it was an issue with the Frenchman’s medical which caused the Reds to pull the plug. Another version of events is that that Fekir’s entourage made some big demands at the last moment.

Whatever went on, Fekir has spoken of his disappointment at seeing the transfer break down.

Although he was linked with Liverpool in the year that followed, the World Cup winner ultimately stayed at Lyon before joining Real Betis in 2019.

READ MORE: Every incoming and outgoing deal Liverpool completed on transfer deadline day

From there, Fekir became a real hero for the Spanish side. Across five seasons, the 31-year-old played 165 times and scored 29 goals, winning the Copa del Rey in 2022.

But after playing against Liverpool in pre-season this summer, Fekir has now moved on from Seville.

As per realbetisbalompie.es, the former France international has made a deadline day move to United Arab Emirates side Al Jazira.

Nabil Fekir left to rue what could have been

At the end of the day, Liverpool did not necessarily miss out after failing to sign Fekir.

The Reds went on to win it all under Jurgen Klopp, starting with the Champions League in the season that followed.

And while Fekir would have no doubt proven to be a quality addition at Anfield, the regret for his failed move will sit solely with the Frenchman.

Betis are a big club in their own right, but Liverpool are clearly on a different level. Fekir missed out on playing for one of the biggest sides in the world.

With his career now winding down in the Middle East, we’ve no doubt he’ll still look back and wonder how he let things slip through his fingers that day in July 2018.