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Nabil Fekir thought he would be jetting out to the World Cup as a Liverpool player.

Instead, he arrives in Russia with the France squad still very much on Lyon's books. Where, it seems, he will begin next season too.

While Fekir has a sizeable distraction following the collapse of his move to Anfield, the Reds must start to look elsewhere.

Irons will be in fires, targets assessed as a replacement is sought for Philippe Coutinho.

Manuel Lanzini, though, won't be one of them, having suffered a serious knee ligament injury last week while preparing for the World Cup with Argentina.

But where could Jurgen Klopp and his recruitment team now turn?

Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)

The obvious choice. Klopp is a huge admirer of the 19-year-old, having signed him for Borussia Dortmund as a 16-year-old in February 2015.

Klopp failed in an attempt to bring the United States international to Liverpool in 2016, since which the teenager's value has rocketed.

He has emerged as a key figure for Dortmund, but the Bundesliga side have been in a state of flux during the past 12 months with Peter Bosz sacked in the autumn, Peter Stoger taking over for the remainder of the season and Lucien Favre, the former Nice boss, becoming head coach for next term.

Pulisic can play on either wing but is most adept in the number 10 role. He wouldn't be cheap, however, with £80million regularly touted as a fee.

Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain)

(Image: FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

Liverpool wanted the Germany international in January 2017 only for the player to opt for Paris Saint-Germain.

Draxler, though, hasn't been a regular starter at PSG in the last 18 months, prompting speculation over his future.

The 24-year-old has revealed he will have talks with compatriot Thomas Tuchel, who is taking over as boss at the Parc des Princes this summer.

While capable of playing in the centre, Draxler has spent much of his time in France on the left.

Thomas Lemar (Monaco)

(Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Liverpool wanted Lemar last summer and were close to agreeing a deal on deadline day until put off by Monaco's asking price.

Interest was subsequently cooled, despite the player making it patently obvious he would welcome a move away from the Ligue 1 side.

Lemar came good again for Monaco in the second half of this season, performing primarily in an attacking midfield role.

But unless Monaco lower their demands, Liverpool will not consider a move for the 22-year-old.

Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)

(Image: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

The 22-year-old has been touted as Real's next big thing ever since being snapped up from Mallorca in 2014.

He scored 11 goals in 53 games this season, but many of those appearances were from the bench, such as in the Champions League final win over Liverpool.

With Real strongly linked with a move for Neymar this summer, Asensio chances of being a starter could be further reduced with reports in Spain suggesting he may seek showdown talks.

Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)

The sentimental choice in some ways, with Gotze having enjoyed a fruitful period working with Klopp while at Dortmund.

Gotze could have joined Liverpool in 2016 but instead returned to Dortmund from Bayern Munich, a move that saw him sidelined for most of the 2016-17 season with a mystery illness.

Still only 26, Gotze was more involved this campaign but still far from a regular.

And he revealed this weekend he would welcome a move to Anfield to be reunited with Klopp.

Piotr Zielinski (Napoli)

Liverpool missed out on the Poland international in the summer of 2016, with Zielinski claiming Klopp wanted him “badly”.

Zielinski featured in all bar three games for Napoli this season, primarily in central midfield rather than further upfield, although 25 of them came from bench.

He remains more potential than the finished article, but that hasn't stopped Napoli slapping a reported 60m euro price tag on the 24-year-old.