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Lyon have sensationally publicly denied Nabil Fekir is on the verge of joining Liverpool.

The Reds are thought to be edging nearer to the signing of the attacking midfielder, with positive discussions taking place between the clubs in the last 24 hours.

Common ground has also been approached in terms of a fee for the 24-year-old.

It is believed that should the transfer go through, Liverpool would pay 55million euros (£48.4m) up front plus a maximum of 5m euros (£4.4m) in add-ons.

But the French club - whose president, Jean-Michel Aulas, had previously claimed a deal was at a 'standstill' and was unlikely to be struck before the World Cup - have now released a statement on Twitter claiming the recent news is false, and that no agreement has been made.

The statement reads: "The information on the transfer of Nabil Fekir is false. Olympique Lyonnais categorically denies the false information disseminated by many media about the transfer of Nabil Fekir to Liverpool.

"In this period of transfers where the slightest rumour is often presented as a reality, Olympique Lyonnais recalls that only the information disseminated by the club on its website is authentic."

Aulas told the Lyon official website: "His case is at a standstill. It has not at all advanced. The case won’t certainly be resolved during the World Cup and I do not think that there will be changes before.

"We have not placed a base price because we have not yet discussed that."

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Michael Edwards, who is in Paris, are keen to complete the move before Fekir heads out with France for the World Cup in Russia.

It's understood Liverpool have been given sufficient encouragement to have staff on standby to carry out a medical in France.