Lyon’s Rayan Cherki is high on the transfer list of Manchester City heading into the summer transfer window.
Pep Guardiola will see Kevin De Bruyne leave Man City over the coming weeks, and the Premier League giants have the unenviable task of trying to replace the Belgian superstar.
Florian Wirtz was Guardiola’s top target, however, City walked away from that deal, which has left them pursuing Cherki and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
The potential signing of Cherki has Man City fans excited, however, Fabrizio Romano has revealed a problem the Manchester club may run into when trying to sign the midfielder, as it has already happened to Borussia Dortmund.
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Rayan Cherki’s release clause at Lyon is complicated
It was reported on Thursday that Man City have started talks for Cherki as the Premier League giants are keen to find out what it would take to land the 21-year-old this summer.
It has been reported for some time that the French star has a release clause between £20m-£25m, however, Fabrizio Romano has stated that the clause is a complicated one, which Borussia Dortmund found out during the January transfer window.
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“Manchester City have now started concrete talks to be informed on Rayan Cherki, the interest was there,” Romano said on his YouTube channel.
“I told you, Cherki and Gibbs-White are the main names on the list for the number 10 position when Florian Wirtz was the dream target, but he’s not joining Manchester City.
“So, contacts for Cherki, contacts for what? on the player’s side to understand the expectations of the player, but also the club side, because Manchester City want to respect Lyon.
“There were a lot of stories about the release clause of Rayan Cherki in January, but then Borussia Dortmund tried; that clause was not something exactly clear or easy to trigger, so the player ended up staying at Lyon.
“Now, Manchester City want to respect Lyon. They want to have a proper conversation. They want to understand how much is the exit fee so talks are ongoing.”
The transfer journalist also provided an update on some of Man City’s other dealings as the Manchester club are hopeful of bouncing back next season.
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Man City want to get all their transfer business done early
In his video, Romano states that Man City want to get all their transfer business done early this summer, which could be a result of the Premier League side competing in the FIFA Club World Cup in June.
This would also give Guardiola time to work with the new faces in his squad, so they can hit the ground running when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway in August.
In addition to Cherki and Gibbs-White, Romano says Man City are working on their deal with AC Milan for Tijjani Reijnders, while they are also looking for a way to sign Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri and Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, in addition to a goalkeeper.
This summer is going to be a very busy one for City, and fans of the club are hoping it will help them close the gap to Liverpool when the new season gets underway.