Chelsea news: Blues rejected chance to sign Nabil Fekir in summer, reveals Lyon president
French World Cup-winner looked set to join Liverpool for £53m in June before the move collapsed after problems with his medical
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CHELSEA rejected Lyon’s former Liverpool target Nabil Fekir this summer, according to the French club.
The 25-year-old looked set to move to Anfield in June before a problem with his medical scuppered the £53m deal.
A knee problem forced the Reds to pull out before the attacking midfielder got over that setback by helping France to go on and win the World Cup just over a month later.
Now his Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has claimed his team’s talisman was also offered to Liverpool’s Premier League rivals at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking at a press conference to unveil new signing Marcelo, the chief said: "In the beginning, when we thought about our summer transfer window and how to organise the future squad. We thought that he [Fekir] was practically gone.
"That’s why we have been able to adapt things.
"We spoke with Chelsea representatives, and they had no interest at all in him.
"From then on, we realised we could change our plans [as he would stay]."
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Liverpool decided not to continue their pursuit of Fekir after already signing Naby Keita and Fabinho to bolster their midfield.
Meanwhile Chelsea swooped to bring in Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic to boost their options in the middle.
