City will splash the cash as they look to rebuild Pep Guardiola's squad
Cherki, 21, has emerged as a key target and a move could be imminent
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By DANIEL DAVIS
Published: 10:37 EDT, 31 May 2025 | Updated: 10:37 EDT, 31 May 2025
Manchester City have made their swoop for Rayan Cherki a priority and will submit a bid next week as they look to fend off rival Premier League interest, reports claim.
Cherki, 21, confirmed he will leave Lyon this summer and a host of clubs are eyeing up a move, believing he has a release clause in his contract worth around £20million.
City initially mounted a charge to sign Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz before ruling out a move, citing the exorbitant amount of money needed to seal the deal, but Pep Guardiola has now turned his attention to the talented Cherki.
After catching the eye during his final campaign in France, and scoring 12 goals across all competitions, Cherki was reportedly shortlisted by the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham - but City have looked to steal a march.
According to L'Equipe, Cherki is now City's No 1 target and a bid is imminent.
Reports in France prematurely claimed France international Cherki had already reached an agreement with City, but this is believed to be wide of the mark.
Manchester City are prioritising a swoop for Lyon's Rayan Cherki, according to reports
Cherki has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs this summer
Pep Guardiola will refresh his City squad and Cherki, 21, is available in a bargain deal
Guardiola has not yet spoken with Cherki but has already been in contact with people familiar with the forward, including former Lyon boss Pierre Sage.
City are keen to wrap up the signing before the Club World Cup, which begins on June 15 in the United States, and will follow up their interest with an official offer.
The club will rebuild their squad during the summer window. Kevin De Bruyne will leave on a free transfer, and looks bound for Napoli, while Jack Grealish's future is uncertain after he was left out of the squad for the final day victory over Fulham.
Cherki, an attacking midfielder and winger by trade, joined Lyon in 2010 and spent nine years in their academy before making his senior debut in 2019, aged just 16.
However, Lyon have been dogged by crippling financial issues and were slapped with a transfer ban and provisional relegation to Ligue 2 in January with debts of £424m.
Cherki has made 185 appearances for Lyon, scoring 29 goals.
As reported by Mail Sport, City are eyeing up a £55m deal for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and hold interest in Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White.
Meanwhile, Pep Lijnders, Jurgen Klopp's former assistant at Liverpool, has agreed to join Guardiola's coaching staff and will start work ahead of the Club World Cup.