Liverpool will reportedly not resume their interest in 2018 target Nabil Fekir

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Liverpool will not go back in for Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir this summer, despite recent reports to the contrary, according to the Independent.

French outlet Le Progres reported earlier this week that the Reds would return for the French international midfielder, perhaps with the summer friendly between Lyon and Liverpool playing a part in the deal.

But the Independent report that despite the fact that Fekir has just the one year left on his contract – knocking his asking price down from £53 million last summer to £45 million now – Jurgen Klopp isn’t interested.

The report outlines how close Fekir came to joining Liverpool last summer, as he was interviewed by the club’s media channels and photographed in club kit.

Most clubs would jump at the chance to sign a previous target at a knockdown price because his contract is dwindling, but Liverpool came along leaps and bounds in the year since Fekir’s deal fell through.

And the report says that the fitness concerns that ended his hopes of a 2018 Anfield move are still prevalent, which is the main reason Klopp won’t go back in.

There is an argument to be made for recruiting a pure playmaker to replace Philippe Coutinho to break down certain defences, however.