That escalated quickly…
Liverpool have their first bit of business of the summer transfer window (Naby Keita aside) all sewn up. With the dust still settling on their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday night, reports emerged on Monday evening that they were close to completing a deal for AS Monaco’s Brazilian international, Fabinho – a move nobody saw coming.
Within a couple of hours, the news was official and pictures of the 24-year-old posing in Liverpool red were doing in rounds on social media.
Having completed the £44m switch, Fabinho, who was repeatedly linked with Manchester United a year ago, set about talking about who else he’d like to see joining him at Anfield later this summer.
In an interview with RMC Sport, he was asked about reports linking Liverpool with a move for another Ligue 1 star – Lyon’s Nabil Fekir. His response made clear that he’d be more than keen to see him arrive at the Merseyside club in the weeks ahead.
“He is a very good player, of international level,” Fabinho said.
“In Ligue 1, it is not only this season that he has demonstrated things. It’s been a few years since he demonstrates his quality.
“If he comes, it will be good too.”
Fekir scored 21 times for Lyon this season, including one in a Europa League victory against Everton at Goodison Park last October. He has been named in Didier Deschamp’s French squad for the World Cup and scored for his national side in a 2-0 friendly victory over Ireland on Monday night.
Fabinho, who also came close to joining Paris Saint-Germain last summer, is expected to be a replacement for Emre Can at Anfield. The German midfielder appears to be close to completing a move to Juventus and only appeared as a substitute late in the final in Kiev at the weekend.
