Jean-Michel Aulas has claimed that Liverpool target Nabil Fekir will remain a Lyon player if no club makes their move before the end of this month.

The France international was a target for Liverpool back in June and was on the cusp of completing a near £50million switch to Anfield before the deal dramatically fell through at the 11th hour.

Fekir had even completed interviews with the Reds' in-hour TV station before the transfer collapsed in early June ahead of his participation in Russia for France's World Cup campaign.

(Image: FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

The Lyon captain went all the way in Russia, helping Les Bleus to victory with a series of substitute cameos - including a 10-minute run-out in the 4-2 final triumph over Croatia last week.

Liverpool have since distanced themselves from claims that they will re-enter into negotiations with Lyon for their skipper, with Jurgen Klopp insisting the £65m capture of Alisson earlier this marked the end of the transfer business.

And Lyon president Aulas has said that he thinks Fekir will stay put at OL - should the Reds fail to return to the table this month.

"I do not think that Fekir will leave," Aulas is quoted as saying by Canal+

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(Image: JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

"He’s one of the best in France – and in the world, since he’s a world champion. He’s a Lyonnais [player], so he’ll be there next season.

"Although in football, nothing is ever certain. I haven’t had the impression that he absolutely wants to leave.

"He’s 90 per cent [certain] going to be at Lyon next season. If he hasn’t left by the end of July, he’ll stay.

"It’s not the size of the offer that will make us change our position on Fekir, but the wishes of Nabil himself."

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Liverpool had been keen to snare Fekir as an attacking midfield replacement for Philippe Coutinho who joined Barcelona for £142million back in January.

However, the Reds have so far sided against returning for the Lyon skipper, with just under three weeks of the transfer window left.

The Reds have added four new players to their ranks this summer with Alisson following on for deals for Xherdan Shaqiri, Fabinho and Naby Keita, whose transfer was agreed 11 months ago with RB Leipzig.