Lyon are ready to accept a modest €25 million bid from suitors for unwanted playmaker Rayn Cherki, with Chelsea and Newcastle United keen.
According to Fichajes, Lyon are ready to sell Rayan Cherki to any suitor, offering €25 million in the next window. The French playmaker had a recent falling out, and there are rumours that his club would like to cash in, with Chelsea and Newcastle United among those keen on signing him.
Lyon fans rate Rayan Cherki relatively highly and consider him one of their academy’s best talents. He remained at the club despite persistent rumours linking the €25 million-rated French playmaker away from the Ligue 1 side during the summer.
Those suitors have not moved away and have been keeping close tabs on the development of the attacking midfielder. A recent issue between the player and Lyon may have tarnished their relationship, which could lead to a sale in the January window.
Cherki has been in decent form for Lyon but exceptional for the France U21 side under Thierry Henry. Hence, it was a surprise when manager Fabio Grosso left him behind for their high-octane clash away to Marseille, where the game was suspended after violent incidents that saw the Lyon boss suffer injuries.
Lyon are now ready to cash in on the €25 million-rated French playmaker ahead of the January window, which has alerted many of his suitors, including Chelsea and Newcastle United. The duo have held particular interest in Cherki and could battle it out in the winter window.
PSG and Real Madrid have also kept tabs, with the latter closely linked with a move last summer. Hence, as things stand, Cherki will have plenty of solutions ahead of him if Lyon remains firm on their decision to sell him.
Manchester United were the latest to enter the race, and now, with Lyon ready to part ways for a modest fee of €25 million, more sides could come into the equation. Chelsea, for instance, have had some business with Lyon and may entice someone like Cherki to their youthful setup.
On the other hand, Newcastle United are looking for deals that fit their pocket and top-quality professionals. Considering Cherki’s price tag and his evident quality, there’s every chance they will stay on the edge and watch over developments closely.
Losing Cherki will have long-term ramifications for Lyon, but their current relationship with the player shows things have broken beyond repair. Things could change between now and January, but if they are ready to accept a fee below his current market value, more than enough teams will form a queue outside Lyon’s offices.
