Chelsea are supposedly leading the race for Nabil Fekir. Their only chance of acquiring him is to make it into the Champions League.
Nabil Fekir is one of Europe’s hidden gems. Not hidden in the sense that he is unknown but in the sense that he is rarely the first topic of conversation. But he should be as soon as he makes the jump to a bigger club than Olympique Lyonnais.
Big clubs have taken notice though at there have been mixed reports. Some sources are saying he has already agreed a deal with Liverpool. Other, more reputable sources say Chelsea are leading the race. If Chelsea are leading the race, there will be a big asterisk next to their name. Because as big of a club as Chelsea is, they have no chance of getting Fekir without Champions League.
Fekir is only 24, on the eve of his prime. Now is the time for him to make the move to the club where he will peak. That means he must have Champions League football. He has captainted a young Lyon team as far as he could and is ready for the leap.
Chelsea would be an excellent and logical destination for him. He is capable of playing as a forward or as a midfielder, both positions in which Chelsea could accommodate him. But he would also join a squad with several compatriots from France. Whatever culture shock he would have had would be minimized by the presence of N’Golo Kante, Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Olivier Giroud.
Fekir could also take the spot left open by Eden Hazard if the Belgian departs. Any money acquired from a Hazard sale could be flipped into Fekir. And like Hazard, Fekir can exist in several formations and has the bonus of feature of leadership earned by captaining Lyon.
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But if Chelsea fails to make the Champions League, that calculus changes. Suddenly all the appeal Chelsea has is gone. And that is when Liverpool take charge.
Where Liverpool would use Fekir is slightly foggy. He could play in any of the forward three of the 4-3-3 or any of the non holding midfielder spots. Liverpool are still sitting on a hefty amount of Philippe Coutinho cash and could make it happen.
That is why it is so vital for Chelsea to go all out in the next week as they seek Champions League. Because making it into the competition allows the club to get Fekir. But not just Fekir, players like Fekir that are approaching their primes and want to spend it at clubs in the elite competitions.
Fekir can be a game changer, even if Hazard departs Stamford Bridge. And the Blues must do everything in their power to bring him to Chelsea. He is the type of nearly unheard player that can join a big club and take them to another level. But only if they are in the right place to make the move happen.
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Because if he goes to Liverpool, he could very well take them to the next level. Perhaps even over Manchester City. He is that good. Chelsea must make it into the Champions League and snatch Fekir away to insure they are the sole challenger to City’s dominance.