Liverpool are set to secure a £60m deal for Nabil Fekir just days after their Champions League final against Real Madrid, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Reds inability to invest huge transfer fees has hampered their ability to build a deep squad, capable of competing on multiple fronts for a number of years in the modern era, so the bumper bid for a man who can replace Philippe Coutinho coming so soon after a huge match shows is so exciting for their fans - it shows they mean business.
What's the story, then?
The Mirror claim that Jurgen Klopp sees Fekir as the ideal replacement for Coutinho and the days after the showpiece occasion in Kiev will see the Reds ramp up their efforts to sign the Lyon playmaker.
They go on to say that the sale of the Brazilian to Barcelona in January and the run to the final of the Champions League - reportedly worth £100m - has left Liverpool with deep enough pockets to sign the Frenchman.
They also report that Liverpool want a deal to be done before the World Cup starts on 14 June, which would require them to step up their efforts considerably.
Fekir can replace Coutinho
Klopp recently revealed that his vision for this Liverpool team was to have Coutinho as a playmaker behind the flying front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane before Barcelona offered him his dream move.
On occasion, against lesser teams at home, Fekir could take up a similar role for Liverpool if he joined. The Reds could get away with being that adventurous and the blend of subtlety and rapidity would add an extra dimension to their attack over the course of a season.
At other times, Fekir could move into the front three, offering an alternative to the pure pace and directness of Salah, Mane and Firmino while ensuring Liverpool are solid with a more workmanlike trio in central midfield.
It is that variety Liverpool miss, not to mention the drop-off in attacking quality when they suffer just one injury up top and Fekir could rectify both issues at a club that could well be European Champions by the time he joins.
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