Liverpool have reportedly agreed a move for Lyon attacker Nabil Fekir.
Mutiple reports in France claim that a £60 million agreement has already been reached for the Ligue 1 side’s captain as part of a five-year deal.
Former Reds manager Gerard Houllier is also alleged to have helped broker the deal through his role as an advisor to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.
But Aulas refuted suggestions that Fekir would be leaving the Groupama Stadium this summer when questioned after Sunday’s win over Troyes.
He said: “If we had negotiated and signed [a deal], I would be the first to know.
“No, there hasn’t been contact with Liverpool today. I am a bit surprised by this story.
“I also want to say there was no agreement in Nabil’s contract allowing him to leave.
“Simply, when he signed his professional contract, we said on the day when he wished [to go], he could come to me to find an agreement.
“It can be this year, next year, in two years…”
The 24-year-old has similarly denied any knowledge of a bid from Anfield but remained unwilling to offer any guarantees on his future beyond this season.
“I heard these rumours. For now, I am in Lyon,” said Fekir.
“There are still two games left and we are preparing for them in the best way possible.
“At the end of the season, we will see. The Champions League with Lyon? Of course I want that. It’s the club of my heart, as you know.”
Jurgen Klopp also responded to the claims after Liverpool’s defeat to Chelsea, saying: “During the game we agreed a deal? I would be surprised by that. No comment.”
However Sadio Mane responded to the speculation and admitted that the prospect of the France international moving to Merseyside is an enticing one.
“Nabil is a very exciting player,” he told SFR Sport.
“He could do beautiful things here and he will enjoy his time with us.
“We always need player like him and if he joins us, it will be fire.”
Fekir has scored 20 times in 38 games for Lyon this term and provided eight assists as they finshed runner-up to Paris Saint-Germain.