Player Focus: Fekir Opts for France but What Next for His Club Career?

“No one is affecting my son except me, and God willing he’ll be joining the Algeria national team soon, the decision has already been taken in a family meeting." Those were the words of Nabil Fekir's father Mohamed at the end of last year, so it's fair to say that fans of Algerian football are less than impressed with the Lyon man's decision to pledge his international allegiance to France.

It's a decision that isn't without precedent but one that irks more than the likes of Zidane, Benzema and Nasri's. Fekir is the 7th Franco-Algerian to opt for les Bleus since Algeria's independence but the first of those to really go back on his word - or at least his father's - having seemingly expressed a desire to represent green over blue.

It's true that it has been the player's father that has pledged his son's future to the nation of his heritage rather than his birth on multiple occasions in the past. Mohamed Fekir stated last October, “My son Nabil has made his decision, he will only play for the Algerian team. He chose his country out of conviction and he will be very proud to make his debut.” The very next day the forward accepted a call-up to France's U21 squad and when questioned on his international future, said, "For now, let’s enjoy the present moment.”

Fekir is certainly doing that right now, with two exquisitely taken goals against Montpellier at the weekend helping Lyon to a 5-1 win and keeping PSG at bay at Ligue 1's summit for another week. Both finishes required a great deal of technique and confidence, first to take on an effort first time after a one-two on the edge of the box and then to chip the keeper and have the audacity to do it without even looking at the goal. It's this technique and confidence that are arguably his two greatest assets and those that have led to even more questions regarding where his future lies in the domestic game.

Arsenal fans will certainly be less hopeful after this apparent international u-turn given that his father also claimed recently "If he leaves (Lyon), it will be for Arsenal. It is the only club that can enable him to progress, with Arsene Wenger."

The chance to sign for the likes of Manchester City does not appeal to Fekir as he fears he would spend too much time on the bench. With no guarantee of regular first team football at the Emirates either, however, the Lyon-born attacker may well be staying put for now, provided OL retain a Champions League qualification berth.

Interest in his services is expected to be widespread this summer nonetheless, and it isn't hard to see why.

It's rare that a young player becomes so integral to a side so quickly, after getting a chance in the first team last season. Fekir had opportunities to impress early on in the campaign, playing from the left wing against the likes of Evian, Rennes and Lille but couldn't cement a place. Indeed, it was not until April of the 2013/14 season that the youngster would start again, when a game against Bastia would prove to be the first true glimpse of his potential.

Moved infield into the number 10 role, Fekir was instrumental in a 4-1 victory, netting his first senior goal for Les Gones and adding another two assists. It was enough to earn the 20-year-old a WhoScored.com man of the match rating of 9.11, and that level of performance has been commonplace from the Lyon man this season.

Fekir first profited from injuries to Clement Grenier, Yoan Gourcuff and Steed Malbranque at the start of the current campaign but his performances quickly rendered him undroppable to Hubert Fournier. He was thriving in the hole behind the inspired Alexandre Lacazette but was moved further forward upon his teammates’ return to fitness to partner Ligue 1's runaway top scorer. His capability to play as a second striker has enabled the manager to promote an exciting brand of attacking football that has seen Lyon pick up plenty of admirers.

It has become clear that Fekir is best deployed in a central role, where he can see plenty of the ball and make things happen with his trickery, intelligent movement and bursts of acceleration. Arguably, not since Eden Hazard has Ligue 1 possessed a player with such a lethal skillset.

Though Hazard was primarily stationed out wide early on in his career at Lille he began to move infield, interchanging positions in a front three, and was irresistible at times. His low centre of gravity and the power in his legs allowed him to glide past the opponents that weren't crude enough to haul him down. The same can be said of Fekir - already a little stockier than the Chelsea man - who has been targeted by opponents and fouled more often than any other player in Ligue 1 (3.6 times per game).

He's currently third when it comes to dribbles per game (2.7) and fires off an average of 2.6 shots per game for a goal tally of 11 in the league thus far. With only Dimitri Payet managing more assists than Fekir in France's top-flight this season (7), only the aforementioned Lacazette has had a direct hand in more goals than the youngster.

The figures that Fekir has posted this season aren't quite at the same level as Hazard in his final season in France, with an average WhoScored rating of 7.62 enough to rank third in Europe's top 5 leagues of all players aged 21 or under at present, but they are very similar to those that the Belgian managed in his penultimate season in Lille. Indeed, Hazard's figures in terms of dribbles (2.7) and the number of times he was fouled per game (3.6) in the 2010/11 campaign are identical to Fekir's averages now. The difference is that the Lyon forward has already had a hand in one more goal.

Interest in Hazard was high after that season but he decided to stay on and would go on to register unbelievable figures (20 goals and 16 assists) the following campaign. If Fekir resists the likely barrage of requests for his services this summer then it may well be best for his development to do the same before perhaps following in the Belgian’s footsteps with a move to London.

Should Fekir move on in the summer and if so, where? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below