Manchester City Join Premier League Tital Rivals Liverpool in Pursuit of Lyon's Nabil Fekir

Manchester City have joined Premier League rivals Liverpool in the race to sign wantaway Lyon ace Nabil Fekir. 

The 25-year-old is a well known name in England after a summer long pursuit from the Reds ended in failure last year; the Frenchman instead remaining in Ligue 1 for another season.

OLI SCARFF/GettyImages

Although he saw a reduction in his goal output for Lyon last season, he still performed well - and it's claimed that Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are now monitoring his situation, with Liverpool also still keen.

The Express report that City have 'asked to be kept in touch' with any developments surrounding his future, despite Fekir failing a medical with Liverpool last summer due to concerns over a previous knee injury.

Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas has already admitted that he wouldn't stand in Fekir's way should he wish to leave, saying (as quoted by the Daily Mail): "Effectively, Nabil is outside [of the two departures expected], because we have an understanding that he can go.

"Thanks Nabil for bringing what he brought, we have an understanding to let him go."

Aulas' stance is a polar opposite of where he stood on the matter last summer, when he was adamant that he wanted to keep Fekir at his hometown club - despite his move to Liverpool appearing to be near completion.

City's reported interest, meanwhile, comes amid heightened speculation that they are looking for a long-term replacement for defensive midfielder Fernandinho, though reinforcing Guardiola's options going forward is likely to be on the agenda given Bayern Munich's interest in signing winger Leroy Sane.

Fekir could prove to be a worthwhile option for the Premier League champions, having scored 12 goals and contributed nine assists at the Groupama Stadium last season.