Real Madrid are reportedly keeping a watchful eye on the progress of 17-year-old French prodigy Rayan Cherki, who is valued at €25 million by Lyon.
According to a report by Defensa Central, Real Madrid are keenly following the progress of Rayan Cherki ahead of the summer transfer window. The 17-year-old French prodigy is valued at around €25 million by Lyon, with Los Blancos’ scouts suggesting a summer move.
Rayan Cherki joined Lyon as a seven-year-old in 2010 and has since made substantial progress, both in their youth setup and within the first-team squad. In fact, Cherki made his senior bow in 2019, aged just 16. Since then, the teenage French prodigy has been establishing a foothold in Les Gones’ first-team setup.
In the season gone by, the 17-year-old did not start week in week out but still managed to remain a regular feature for Lyon, turning out 31 times in all competitions while also chipping in with a handy tally of 4 goals and as many assists. His progress has duly been noted, with Real Madrid closely monitoring his development for quite some time now.
Real Madrid are constantly on the lookout for some of the best talents across the globe, an outlook that has fetched them current first-team regulars Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo Goes. In recent weeks, the Merengues have been heavily linked with a number of hot prospects in Europe, those including Alberto Del Moral, among others.
Cherki, though, could well be an option for the first-team squad in no time, considering Luka Modric is 35 and has been showing signs of age catching up to him. With the need to lay down a succession plan for the veteran Croat being imperative, Cherki could be just the player to take on the mantle in the Real Madrid midfield in the years to come.
In addition, the 17-year-old, priced at around €25 million by Lyon, could also be an option out on the wings as well, with the French prodigy capable of playing on either flank equally adeptly. Cherki is not the only Lyon player heavily linked with Real Madrid, with Houssem Aouar also a target for the Spanish giants.
What now remains to be seen is if Real Madrid pay heed to the suggestions of their scouting network by launching the offensive for Cherki. If so, it will be interesting to see whether they are willing to meeting Lyon’s €25 million of the prodigious attacking talent.