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Nabil Fekir had chosen his Liverpool shirt number before £53m transfer collapsed

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Nabil Fekir had chosen his Liverpool shirt number before £53m transfer collapsed — Nabil Fekir had chosen his Liverpool shirt number. (EPA)

Nabil Fekir had chosen his shirt number for Liverpool before his transfer from Lyon collapsed, according to reports in France.

The 24-year-old was on the brink of completing a €60 million (£53m) switch to Anfield but Lyon confirmed on Saturday evening that negotiations have ended.

Fekir had his medical at Clairefontaine on Friday afternoon but the transfer stalled after Liverpool sought a second opinion on the midfielders right knee.

The France international required surgery after suffering a cruciate ligament rupture in September 2015 and he needed a second operation on the same knee nearly a year later.

LEquipe report that were not completely satisfied with the results of the medical and attempted to renegotiate Fekirs valuation with Lyon.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 19, 2018 Lyon's French midfielder Nabil Fekir reacts after missing a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais and OGC Nice, at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu near Lyon, central-eastern France. French club Lyon denounced "fake news" on June 8, 2018, amid reports that captain Nabil Fekir's signature for Liverpool in a ??53 million ($71 million, 60 million euro) deal was imminent. "In this period of transfers when the slightest rumour is often presented as reality, Lyon would like to underline that only information released on the club's website is reliable," the club said in a statement. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE DESMAZESPHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images — Liverpool are concerned after Fekir had surgery on his right knee. (AFP/Getty Images)

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The report also suggests that Fekir was so close to joining Anfield that he had even selected his shirt number but now claims a deal between Liverpool and Lyon is difficult to imagine.

On Saturday, French Football Federation chief Noel Le Graet suggested that Liverpool had attempted to lower Fekirs asking price.

Its always like that when you talk about a transfer – each club tries to raise his price, to lower his price, when theres a hiccup someone wants it reduced. Its part of the game, he said.

Fekir came on as a second-half substitute in Frances 1-1 draw with USA on Saturday evening and refused to speak to the media after the match.

In a statement on Saturday evening, Lyon said: Although Liverpool has been the priority of a possible transfer of Nabil… Olympique Lyonnais is delighted to be able to count on the presence of their captain in 2018-2019.

Fekir made 40 appearances for Lyon last season, scoring 23 goals and registering eight assists.