Rayan Cherki is closing in on officially becoming a Manchester City player.
Man City agreed a transfer fee with Lyon on Monday after a tough few days of negotiations between the two clubs, as the Premier League saw their first offer for Cherki rejected.
The Manchester club will pay €36m (£30m) guaranteed for the French star, with €5m (£4m) in add-ons, plus a 15% sell-on clause on any future sale.
It is also being reported that Man City have agreed that Lyon can have one of their stars on loan for the season, but one member of Pep Guardiola’s squad will be ‘very difficult’ to sign during this summer’s transfer window.
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Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Lyon will find it hard to sign Man City’s Oscar Bobb on loan
Lyon will now need a replacement for Cherki, as the 21-year-old was one of the Ligue 1 club’s best players last season, and according to L’Equipe, the French outfit will find it hard to sign Oscar Bobb this summer as part of the loan agreement they have with City related to the Cherki deal.
“Lyon have secured a one-year loan deal of a Man City player in the agreement for Rayan Cherki and should look at an attacking player,” Hugo Guillemet wrote for L’Equipe. “Oscar Bobb is very difficult, while the likes of James McAtee or Claudio Echeverri are possible.”
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McAtee is expected to leave Man City over the coming week, while Bobb plans to be part of Guardiola’s squad for the 2025/26 campaign.
The Norwegian star endured a tough 2024/25 season, but will be keen to bounce back over the coming months as the midfielder can play a big role in any success City have next term, going off the impact the 21-year-old made during the 2023/24 campaign.
For Man City, sending Claudio Echeverri to Lyon would be the best outcome, as it would benefit the youngster massively down the line.
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Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Man City should send Claudio Echeverri to Lyon
“Yes, of course,” Guardiola said via Mancity.com last summer when asked if he was pleased with Bobb’s progress. “Sometimes he’s a bit shy, but when he plays without fear, he has incredible potential.”
The Norwegian is one of the best talents at the Etihad Stadium, therefore, the Premier League club should avoid sending him away this summer.
As for McAtee, a permanent move would be more beneficial for everyone; therefore, sending him on loan to Lyon would be a wasted opportunity.
Echeverri would be the perfect solution, should the Ligue 1 club want the 19-year-old, as it would help Man City fulfil their agreement, it would get the youngster experience in a big European league, and the player might be happy there, as there are two Argentines in the French club’s squad.
The Manchester club are yet to decide if they will send Echeverri out on loan next season, but if they do come to that conclusion, their agreement with Lyon would be the perfect opportunity.