Rayan Cherki Lyon
Lyon
Premier League sides Manchester United and Liverpool have been strongly linked with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and despite popular reports, the winger will not be available for just €22.5 million.
The Frenchman wants to leave Lyon in the summer and even though his contract has a release clause, Fabrizio Romano has said that unlike other countries, in France, such clauses are not official. This basically means the interested clubs will need to sit at the table and properly negotiate a deal for Cherki.
What has Romano said about the winger’s contract?
In his YouTube video, the transfer expert has said: “Rayan Cherki is going to leave Olympique Lyon, we know that. My understanding is that we have to forget about the release clause as a traditional clause, so it’s not about going there, putting the money and getting the player. That’s what Borussia Dortmund tried to do in the January window, but Lyon insists that the clause is not valid.
“In France, clauses are not official, so you need to negotiate with Lyon to get Cherki. My understanding is that not only from Germany, but also from England, there is interest in Cherki, and the player could be open to a Premier League move. So that can be a concrete possibility for Cherki. Now his agent will explore all the opportunities, explore all the options, but Cherki is an attractive option for several clubs looking for a creative player to play behind the striker. The Premier League is an attractive destination for the player.
“My understanding is that PSG at the moment are not proceeding with that one. Germany, England, maybe Italy, these kind of solutions could be more attractive for Cherki ahead of the summer transfer window, with the player open to moving abroad.”
How much could Lyon demand?
Currently, Rayan Cherki is valued at €35 million and because his contract is set to expire in 2026, Lyon won’t be able to quote an unrealistic fee.
If they push too hard the winger will always be able to leave as a free agent next year which is why we think his ultimate transfer fee will be close to what his release clause is.
Lyon might demand around €30 million but if Man United and Liverpool push hard enough they should be able to get their hands on the winger for about €25-27 million.
Is Rayan Cherki worth spending money on?
Rayan Cherki is a product of Lyon’s youth system and the 2024/25 season has by far been his best campaign by far. In 44 appearances for the club, the left-winger has scored 12 and assisted 20 goals. In the league, he has an xA of 11.7 and he has scored 8 goals from just 19 shots on target.
His creativity and positioning make him a top attacker plus he is also blessed with technical ability. Rayan Cherki is currently one of the best dribblers in European football which is evident from his dribbling success rate of 53%. The 21-year-old has created 75 chances in Ligue 1 alone with a passing accuracy of 84%.
Rayan Cherki Data for the 24/25 season Lyon
It’s not every day that a top and exciting talent like him is available in the transfer market for below €30 million and neither Liverpool nor Manchester United will back off from this move.
Currently, Liverpool have a slight disadvantage in comparison to Man United because they has Mo Salah on the right wing. However, because of their Premier League title the Anfield outfit will massively fancy their chances. Man United, on the other hand, will first need to secure Champions League football if they are to stand a chance in signing Rayan Cherki.
Data courtesy Datamb