France attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.
France attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.(Image: Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Manchester City have agreed a fee with Lyon for Rayan Cherki with the playmaker expected to complete his move to the Etihad ahead of Tuesday's first transfer deadline.
City have agreed a €40m fee with the French club for the 21-year-old and personal terms are also understood to have been finalised. The winger will now travel to Manchester for a medical with a view to completing his move ahead of Tuesday night's 7pm transfer deadline.
That cut-off is in place to allow clubs to conduct business before the start of the Club World Cup and should the Cherki deal be completed without any hitches, the France international will be eligible for the tournament and could make his City debut in next week's group stage opener against Wydad.
Cherki starred for France on debut in the Nations League game with Spain last week and is capable of playing on either side and as a No.10.
He will be one of three new arrivals at City between now and tomorrow with Rayan Ait-Nouri's move close with the player having completed his medical on Saturday.
The left back will join from Wolves for a fee of £33m and is set to be the first deal confirmed.
Tijjani Reijnders is also joining the Blues. He flew to Manchester on Sunday for his medical between Netherlands matches and his arrival will also be rubber-stamped in the next 24 hours.
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There is no need for City to get all three transfers wrapped up before the Club World Cup, but it is what the club want as they look to put a disappointing season behind them.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak spoke recently about the ambition to get the bulk of their transfers done before they head off for the United States to give Pep Guardiola the best possible chance of integrating the new arrivals.
City will be able to do the rest of their business in the second transfer window of the summer, which opens six days after the first one closes and runs all the way to September 1.
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