Report: Nabil Fekir's Liverpool move on hold following medical

Liverpool's anticipated signing of Nabil Fekir is experiencing delays due to what is believed to be issues uncovered during his medical.

The Reds' medical department had spent the last two days in France performing a check-up on the Lyon captain, and The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe understands the hold-up is due to the concerns that arose from these tests. A £53-million fee was already agreed between the two teams, and Fekir approved personal terms on a five-year contract.

Per the Guardian's Andy Hunter, an introductory interview with LFCTV has already been recorded, with purported images of the video surfacing online. Liverpool aimed to have the transfer completed before the World Cup begins, and France manager Didier Deschamps doesn't want unresolved deals interfering with the team's tournament.

Fekir ruptured a cruciate ligament in September 2015 which sidelined him for a significant period, and he also missed eight Lyon matches last season with a separate knee injury. It is unknown whether Liverpool's medics flagged problems with Fekir's knees.

Fekir's arrival would mark the second most expensive acquisition in Liverpool's history - behind the £75 million paid for Virgil van Dijk in January - and would address Jurgen Klopp's want for an additional attacking midfielder in his squad. Fabinho, who is adept in defensive midfield and at right-back, has already arrived from Monaco for around €45 million, and there have been further links with Roma's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson and Stoke City's Xherdan Shaqiri.

Liverpool also reached an agreement last year to grab Naby Keita from RB Leipzig this summer, promising a fresh look to a midfield that will lose Emre Can when his contract expires at the end of the month.

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Lyon released a statement on Friday refuting that Fekir signing for Liverpool 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," it read.