Lyon have reportedly turned down the first offer sent to them by for French star Rayan Cherki. The 21-year-old attacker has been with the Ligue 1 club right from the age of 15. Manchester City is now preparing for its second offer.
Meanwhile, the player is quite relaxed about the overall situation while waiting for the agreement to be prepared. The spotlight on the French footballer intensified on Thursday night after the Lyon midfielder came off the bench during France’s 5-4 loss to Spain, delivering a standout performance with a goal and an assist, earning widespread praise from the French media for his impact.
The major hindrance in Cherki’s move to Manchester City is Lyon. Both clubs are yet to reach an agreement, despite the player already settling personal terms with the Premier League club. According to sports journalist David Ornstein, all parties involved in the deal remain confident it will be finalized. Meanwhile, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reports that the French midfielder is staying calm about the situation, even after Lyon turned down City’s initial offer.
Rayan Cherki is fully relaxed and is focused on next match against Germany
has been under the radar for Europe’s top teams since the time he joined Lyon. He has been the top form in the current season, with 12 goals and 20 assists. With the second offer underway from Manchester City, Cherki is quite relaxed. Reporter Florian Plettenberg on his official X account mentioned that “Lyon have rejected the first offer from Manchester City for Rayan Cherki. The second offer is now being prepared. Negotiations are ongoing. Cherki is waiting for an agreement between the clubs. ‘(Cherki is) Totally relaxed and fully focused on his match against Germany on Sunday. He could possibly be in the starting XI after his excellent performance against Spain.’
Lyon are demanding between £29 million and £34 million (€35m-€40m) to let go of Cherki, and with Manchester City eager to include the midfielder in their squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, the Premier League champions will likely meet the asking price. Versatile enough to play as an attacking midfielder or on the right wing, Cherki is a valuable asset — making him a top target for both Man City and Liverpool, looking forward to locking the deal.