Chelsea Looking To Trump Liverpool After Opening Talks To Sign £62m Star

The summer transfer window is in full swing and managers are working hard on their transfer targets so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea are linked with Liverpool target Nabil Fekir…

Chelsea are hoping to beat Liverpool to the signing of Nabil Fekir after opening talks with Lyon over a potential deal for the £62m-rated attacker, according to Sport via TeamTalk.

Fekir has been one of the most sought-after players in Europe after enjoying a superb campaign last season that saw him provide 23 goals and 8 assists for Lyon to help them finish third in the Ligue 1 table while he also earned a place in France’s World Cup winning squad this summer.

The 25-year-old attracted strong interest from Liverpool earlier in the summer after Jurgen Klopp identified Fekir as the ideal replacement for Philippe Coutinho having failed to sign another attacking midfielder following the Brazilian’s move to Barcelona in January.

A move to Anfield looked to be on the cards after a £53m deal was agreed with Lyon but the proposed move collapsed at the 11th hour amid speculation Liverpool tried to renegotiate the price due to concerns over an old knee injury which was flagged up during the medical.

TeamTalk claim that Liverpool are still expected to resurrect the deal during the closing stages of the window, however, it seems they’ll now have to fend off stiff competition from Premier League rivals, Chelsea.

Spanish publication Sport says the Blues have now made contact with Lyon to discuss a deal to sign Fekir after identifying the Frenchman as a potential replacement for Eden Hazard – who’s being linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Willian is also being tipped to leave Stamford Bridge so Chelsea are in the market for an attacking midfielder and it looks like the west Londoners are hoping to beat Liverpool to the signing of Fekir.

However, it seems Lyon think the Frenchman’s valuation has increased now that he’s a World Cup winner as Sport claim the asking price will be around £62m [€70m] for Fekir – £9m more than Liverpool had agreed to pay last month.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

We’ll have to wait and see whether Chelsea are willing to meet that valuation or if Liverpool decide to renew their interest but I think Fekir would be an exciting signing if either club was able to lure him to England this summer.