If Liverpool's putative signing from Lyon proves to be even half as crafty a Fekir as Luis Suarez, then it will have proved to be a pretty successful signing.
Liverpool are widely expected to confirm the signing of Lyon and French attacker Nabil Fekir later today, in a deal that could rise to €60 million. Having already completed the signing of Fabinho, Michael Edwards and the rest of the once-maligned Transfer Committee are the toast of Liverpool fans, with the spending splurge a useful remedy for Champions League hangovers.
According to French media outlet Le Parisien, Liverpool fans have gratitude to extend to another, more recognisable face: erstwhile manager Gerard Houllier.
The Frenchman was Liverpool's first non-British manager and across six years (some of which was spent as co-manager with Roy Evans in that strange, doomed compromise) he formed a strong bond with the club, to such an extent that he ended a 3-0 Anfield hammering when in charge of Aston Villa by saying that "If I have got to lose 3-0, I would prefer it to be to them as I like Liverpool".
Houllier is out of the management game now, but it still exerting an influence on football in a role as an "external advisor" to Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas. According to Le Parisien, Houllier helped to facilitate discussion between the clubs, with the outlet accentuating Houllier's "interpersonal skills".
The singing is expected to be confirmed today and will be Liverpool's third arrival of this window, following Fabinho and Naby Keita from Monaco and RB Leipzig respectively.
