Bayern Munich will reportedly compete with Liverpool to sign 21-year-old French attacking prospect Rayan Cherki from Ligue 1 club Lyon this year.
According to a report by Caught Offside, Rayan Cherki is the subject of interest from Bayern Munich. The Lyon whizkid is also a target for Liverpool, with the financially-stricken Ligue 1 club ready to part ways with him for around €22 million. Meanwhile, the Bundesliga champions will not pursue the French attacking prospect in the winter transfer window and will wait until the summer to launch the offensive.
Rayan Cherki and his progress in Ligue 1
Rayan Cherki has been one of the best young attacking prospects in the world in the last half a decade. The Frenchman rose in prominence when he broke into the first-team squad as a 16-year-old in the 2019/20 season, and he has been a regular for Lyon since then.
The 21-year-old has already turned out over 150 times for Lyon, and he has been excellent thus far in the 2024/25 season. Cherki has contributed to 13 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions, finding the back of the net five times and providing eight assists.
However, Cherki’s long-term future with Lyon is uncertain, with Les Gones struggling to balance the books. Failure to do so will result in relegation from Ligue 1, with Lyon already getting provisional expulsion. The situation has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Bayern Munich and Liverpool are the prospective suitors for the signature of the French attacking prospect.
A man in demand
Liverpool’s interest in Rayan Cherki is understandable. The Reds are in a spot of bother over Mohamed Salah’s long-term future, with the Egyptian international entering the final six months of his contract. So, Cherki has emerged as a viable target, considering he can play on the flanks as well as he does through the middle.
As for Bayern Munich, Thomas Muller is in the twilight of his career. In addition, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, and Serge Gnabry face an uncertain future at the Allianz Arena. So, the Bavarian giants need an offensive reinforcement this year, with Cherki an option worth considering.
However, Bayern Munich will not launch the offensive to sign the 21-year-old Frenchman in the winter transfer window. Meanwhile, recent reports have claimed that Liverpool will be open to meeting Lyon’s asking price of €22 million for the attacking prospect. So, it will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the French whizkid.
