Lyon captain Nabil Fekir has denied he is close to signing for Liverpool this summer.
Liverpool have earmarked Fekir as their top transfer target and will now step up their pursuit in the wake of Saturday's Champions League final.
Jurgen Klopp believes Fekir is the ideal player to replace Philippe Coutinho, who left to join Barcelona in January.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has already denied any offers from Liverpool and Fekir has now reaffirmed those comments.
“I’m not close to Liverpool,” he told Telefoot, via Sky Sports. “It’s true that there are discussions with several clubs. As I said, I will take time to think.
“It doesn’t matter if I sign or not before the World Cup. As I said, I leave time to do things.
“He [Aulas] knows my desires, and we’ll talk about all of this in the next few days.”
Liverpool lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final and news that other clubs are also in the running for Fekir will only make things worse.
Fekir has just enjoyed his best ever season and interest will intensify if he carries that form into the 2018 World Cup with France.
The 24-year-old scored 18 goals and provided eight assists in 30 league appearances this season, despite spending most of the time playing in a role behind the strikers.
Not only that, but only Marseille winger Florian Thauvin (13) picked up the WhoScored Man of the Match award more times than Fekir (12) in Ligue 1 this season.
