France attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki
France attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki is heading to the Premier League
After years of being linked with a move to Liverpool, Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki will be heading to the Premier League next season — after a transfer move to Manchester City was agreed.
Moving for a transfer fee of around $40 million (£29.5 million), Cherki is set to sign a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium. According to L'Equipe, a deal was agreed this morning after Manchester City increased its initial offer worth around $26 million (£19 million).
Cherki scored against Spain recently in the UEFA Nations League and also featured as France confirmed third spot by beating Florian Wirtz — who talks are continuing between the Reds and Bayer Leverkusen for — and Germany by two goals to nil.
Cherki scored 12 goals and assisted another 20 for Lyon last season, including netting against Manchester United in the Europa League. Wirtz, meanwhile, got 15 goals and 16 assists for Leverkusen in all competitions.
"He has been incredible this season," French soccer journalist Julien Laurens told the BBC this week when asked about Cherki. "Since he was 16 — even before that — the talent is there, left foot or right foot.
"A player at this level who takes corners with each foot depending on which side of the corner it is, to be an inswinger every time is just incredible. He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now."
Rayan Cherki impressed with France during the international break (Image: Getty Images)
Lyon's former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said earlier this year: "Cherki is the best natural talent I've ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball.
"He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them. He is a genius."
According to The Athletic, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot met with Cherki earlier this summer, breaking off from his holiday to speak with the 21-year-old. However, Wirtz was the priority for the Reds and a deal is edging closer.
"I expect the medical will take place in the next days, as we expect the total agreement between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen within the next one, two, or three days," Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg said this week.
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"There has been a new offer, a fresh offer from Liverpool in the last two days. The package is almost €150M, with a big package of possible add-ons included."
As things stand, it is understood that Liverpool's bid is worth $135 million (£100 million) plus a further $18 million (£13 million) in add-ons, with talks ongoing. Wirtz's international commitments are now out of the way after he started for Germany against Portugal and France this week in Munich.
Liverpool.com says: Cherki is very talented but with Wirtz coming to Anfield, Slot won't be worried about potentially missing out. Liverpool might have moved more strongly for Cherki had it not been able to beat Bayern Munich to Wirtz.