Man City Start Talks to Sign French Star Rayan Cherki Before Club World Cup
Man City have officially started working to sign French talent Rayan Cherki. The club have made him one of their top targets for the summer window. They plan to make their first offer next week and want to sign him before the Club World Cup begins.
Cherki, who is 21 years old, has not yet made a final decision. The English side are very interested in him, but nothing is agreed yet. The French newspaper L’Équipe, quoting people close to Cherki, said that he will not decide anything until he finishes his current duties with the French national team.
Cherki’s future is a big topic at Olympique Lyonnais this summer. Many believe he will soon move to Man City, but his close circle say no deal will happen until after the French Olympic team’s training camp ends.
Man City have watched Cherki for a long time and are not the only ones. Clubs like Liverpool, Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen have all followed him closely. Lately, talks between his agent and these clubs have become more serious.
Man City Push to Finish the Deal Before Club World Cup
The Man City staff have also looked into Cherki’s past by speaking with his old coaches, including Lyon’s current boss Pierre Sage. Pep Guardiola believes Cherki could fit perfectly in his plans as he wants to refresh the squad.
Guardiola has not yet spoken directly with Cherki, but that talk should happen soon. The Spanish coach wants to use him as a key playmaker, especially after Cherki earned a recent call-up to the French national team.
Man City want to finalise the move quickly so Cherki can join the team in time for the Club World Cup. Reports say their upcoming offer will beat Lyon’s last deal, which was worth €22.5 million.
Lyon Set €40 Million Price Tag
Lyon have made it clear they want around €40 million for Cherki. They also hope to complete the transfer quickly as Man City’s interest keeps growing. The French side see this as a big chance to earn good money from the current market.
Even though Man City are leading the talks, Liverpool are still chasing the player. There’s also a third unnamed European club still in the race. The final choice may come soon, as the next few days will likely decide where Cherki will go.
