Nabil Fekir to Liverpool: Former Reds boss helped transfer happen, contract revealed
LIVERPOOL reportedly have one of their former managers to thank with a deal for Nabil Fekir close to being completed.
Reports emerged late last night from France that Liverpool and Lyon had finally struck a deal for Fekir to complete a move to Anfield.
French newspaper L'Equipe claim Liverpool will pay up to £53million for the midfielder, with the initial fee being around £48m.
With the transfer window opening earlier this season, Liverpool have looked to get their business done early.
If Fekir is to complete his move to Liverpool, he will become Jurgen Klopp's third signing this summer.
Fabinho was announced at the end of last month in a deal worth £43.7m while Naby Keita will officially become a Liverpool player in July.
The Reds have been tracking Fekir for some time now and with a deal looking close to completion, they may have a former manager to thank for helping make the transfer happen.
That's according to French publication Le Parisien, who claim Gerard Houllier played a big role in the agreement between the two clubs.
Houllier acts as an advisor to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas and is said to have overseen "discussions" between the Ligue 1 side and Liverpool.
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The report goes on to claim Fekir's contract at Liverpool will be worth close to €700,000 a month (roughly £154,000 a week).
That will make him one of the highest paid earners at Liverpool and is seen as the replacement for Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool are still on the lookout for a new goalkeeper with both Jan Oblak and Allison linked with moves to Merseyside.
But the Reds have been knocked back by both Atletico Madrid and Rome over their asking price.