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Chelsea transfer news: Nabil Fekir negotiations planned TONIGHT when Blues host Lyon
CHELSEA will open talks with Lyon over a deal for Nabil Fekir tonight, Express Sport understands.
Nabil Fekir returns to Lyon training ahead of new season
Chelsea are looking to add to their squad with Thursday’s 5pm transfer deadline looming.
The Blues have singed just one first-team player - Jorginho from Napoli - since new manager Maurizio Sarri’s appointment.
But Express Sport understands they will try and open channels with Lyon over a deal for Fekir today.
Chelsea take on Lyon in their final pre-season match of the summer at Stamford Bridge.
The game kicks off at 8pm and comes just two days after their Community Shield loss to Manchester City.
Talks with Lyon over a possible £55m deal for Fekir will be held.
But a move to west London for the France international is far from a certainty.
Fekir almost joined Liverpool before the World Cup only for his deal to collapse at the 11th hour due to concerns found in his medical.
The Reds have since dropped their interest in the France international, who went on to win the World Cup in Russia.
Fekir revealed on Monday that he is still open to leaving Lyon.
"As you can see, I am in Lyon. I am very happy here," Fekir told Lyon’s in-house TV station after returning to training.
"But the transfer window [in France] is still long and everything goes very quickly in football.
"We don’t know what will happen in the future but I am very happy at Lyon. I feel brilliant in this squad.
"We have very good players, a great atmosphere. It is a bit like the French national team: a mixture of youngster and older players, with some players more experienced than others.
"We have a good group, very homogeneous. We feel good together and I hope that Lyon will have a very good season."
Chelsea themselves have laboured to get deals over the line this summer, with their priority being to keep top stars such as Eden Hazard, Willian and Thibaut Courtois.
But things may come to a head in the days before the the transfer deadline.
Not only are Chelsea keen on Fekir but they are also seeking a replacement for Courtois if the goalkeeper secures his dream move to Real Madrid.