In 2018, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp would have been licking his lips in anticipation of the impending confirmation of Nabil Fekir's transfer to the club, in a deal that collapsed like a dilapidated barn at the 11th hour.

Indeed, in June 2018, right before the World Cup in Russia, The Guardian reported that the Merseyside giants had agreed a fee to sign Olympique Lyonnais' Fekir for €60m (£53m) following the club's 3-1 defeat in the Champions League finale to the hands of the imperious Real Madrid.

Despite completing the lion-share of formalities and even conducting interviews ahead of the official announcement of the transfer, Fekir was left dismayed after Liverpool decided to pull the plug on the prospective acquisition, citing concerns over a long-term knee injury that has plagued the 29-year-old throughout the duration of his career.

Following the collapsed deal, Fekir would go on to play his final season in Ligue 1, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists from 39 appearances across all competitions, before later moving to La Liga outfit Real Betis for an initial fee of only £17.5m, where he plys his trade to this day.

The exact reason that Liverpool decided to steer clear of the transfer remains a contentious topic, but undoubtedly, his dynamism and creativity from midfield would only enhance the current crop of beleaguered Merseyside players.

Liverpool's desire for a midfielder has been a prominent fact this season, and one can't help but wonder if Fekir had been granted his transfer in 2018, there might be a spark from the centre that the outfit does not quite wield right now.

Fekir, who has an impressive return of 96 goals and 72 assists across 327 appearances at club level, has cast aside the previous trepidation surrounding the strength of his knee and has managed to restrict his time shackled to the medical department to but a handful of matches each campaign, indeed emerging as one of Betis' most integral cogs.

The £26m-rated playmaker, who has won the World Cup with France - weeks after the Liverpool deal collapsed - and the 2020/21 Copa del Rey with Betis, has recorded an impressive average career match rating of 7.26, as per WhoScored, indicating a stellar consistency that would have left Anfield "like fire" - in the words of Sadio Mane - with the burning intensity of his labours.

And over the past year, as per FBref, the "incredible" gem - as once dubbed by former Brazilian forward Malcom - ranks among the top 2% of positional peers in Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, 9% for dribbles completed and the top 12% for passes attempted - which highlights the level of progressive play and attacking emphasis that would only enhance the fortunes of the Reds.

With all of this in mind, Liverpool and FSG will undoubtedly rue their mistake as his particular skill set is exactly what Jurgen Klopp craves at present, and had they signed the ominous clouds that linger over Anfield may have never materialised.