Manchester City reach agreement to sign 21-year-old star in deal worth €40m: Reports
Manchester City have reportedly reached an agreement to sign winger Ryan Cherki from Lyon. The Cityzens have reportedly been tracking him since May this year and have now agreed a fee with the Ligue 1 side.
As per David Ornstein of The Athletic, Manchester City will pay £33.7 million to sign the Frenchman from Lyon. City have already agreed on personal terms with the 21-year-old, and he is expected to join this week.
The report adds that Manchester City were keen on getting the deal done before the Club World Cup window shuts on Tuesday, June 10. The Cityzens beat competition from Liverpool, who reportedly met the Frenchman last month.
The report adds that Arne Slot flew to France to hold direct talks with Cherki, but they have now decided to focus on Florian Wirtz instead. The Reds are reportedly in talks with Bayer Leverkusen for Wirtz and have seen a £113 million bid rejected by the Bundesliga side.
The 21-year-old Frenchman scored 12 goals and assisted 20 times for Lyon last season, including a goal in each leg of the Europa League semifinal loss to Manchester United.
Liverpool were urged to beat Manchester City to Cherki by Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson spoke to Football Insider earlier this month and urged Liverpool to sign Rayan Cherki. He claimed that the Frenchman was ideal for the Reds, and wouldn't cost as much as Florian Wirtz. He said:
"Potentially – why couldn't they sign both? Liverpool could be in a position – if Diaz moves on, if other players move on – you look at Cherki at 21-years-old, this is going to be a fantastic investment. Lyon – we know the financial troubles that they have in the French league. It may not be a deal that's overly costly to Liverpool. His contract expires in 2026, so everything adds up with the financial problems that they've got in France; with the length of the player's contract, his age, everything adds up.
"This is going to be a great signing for somebody if they get him this summer. Obviously he's a player that Arne Slot likes and he's gone to see him personally, which immediately gives you an indication that they want to sign him. With Wirtz, we know what a talent he is growing into. In last season's European competitions, he was highly touted as one of the best young players, and he's certainly living up to that potential. He's going to cost you a pretty penny – Cherki, not so much."
Manchester City have also agreed on a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers' Rayan Aït-Nouri and AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders, as per GOAL.
