Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas insists he does not expect a decision over Nabil Fekir’s future to be reached until after the World Cup.

The France international, who has been included in his country’s 23-man squad for this summer’s finals in Russia, has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool over recent weeks.

Speculation had gathered pace that the two clubs had agreed a £60million fee for the attacking midfielder.

But Aulas has now dismissed that talk and insists he does not expect anything to happen until after the World Cup finals.

“The transfer is at a standstill, there is no way forward,” Aulas said.

“The deal will certainly not close during the World Cup and I do not think there is any change before the World Cup. “We have not set a base price because we have not discussed this yet.”

Fekir has spent his entire career with Lyon, making his first-team debut in 2013, and he enjoyed his best goalscoring season to date during the 2017-18 campaign, netting 18 goals in 30 Ligue 1 appearances.

Liverpool have been impressed by the 24-year-old and it appears the Reds are looking to get their transfer business done early, with midfielders Fabinho and Naby Keita already agreeing to join the club.

Jurgen Klopp is aiming to build a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title and Liverpool are priced at 6.00 to be crowned champions of England next term.