Manchester City are working to bring Lyon’s Rayan Cherki to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Man City have identified Cherki as the best option for the number 10 role in Pep Guardiola’s team ahead of the 2025/26 campaign after Kevin De Bruyne was allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer upon the expiration of his contract, with the 33-year-old now set to join Napoli.
Cherki is expected to cost Man City around £34m, should the Premier League club get a deal for the Lyon star over the line in the coming days, as Guardiola hopes to have the midfielder available for the FIFA Club World Cup.
However, the French star has been warned by one of his countrymen to avoid the Manchester club, as Guardiola’s system will not suit the 21-year-old.
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Frank Leboeuf tells Rayan Cherki to avoid Man City
Cherki has already given the green light to move to Man City ahead of the 2025/26 season, but the 21-year-old has been warned by Frank Leboeuf to avoid the Premier League giants due to Guardiola’s possession-based style and system.
“I know a lot about him, and I really, really appreciate the player. He’s a great, great player, but I think he doesn’t fit into Guardiola’s system,” Leboeuf said about Cherki on ESPN FC.
“The guy is, do you remember Hatem Ben Arfa? The talented midfielder who played for Newcastle, and that’s the kind of player who, with the ball, the guy can do everything.
“But I don’t see him fitting in the Manchester City system, where it’s more about passing and blah, blah, blah, then turning around and not going forward fast.
“I mean, Cherki is a great player, but that’s maybe the only team he shouldn’t go to because of the system, Guardiola’s system.”
Cherki is unlikely to listen to the advice of his fellow countryman, but should the midfielder change his mind, there are other clubs looking at the French star.
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What other clubs are interested in Rayan Cherki
It was reported on Tuesday that Arne Slot recently met with Cherki, as Liverpool are one of the main clubs interested in the Lyon star, and could make a move should their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz go wrong.
In addition to the Premier League champions, TBR Football reports that Man United, Tottenham and Newcastle have all been monitoring the 21-year-old’s situation at Lyon as the midfielder prepares to leave Ligue 1 this summer.
Cherki has his heart set on a move to England, but outside of the Premier League, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig remain keen on the French talent, along with Serie A outfit Atalanta.
All of this interest is irrelevant at present, as Cherki looks set to be wearing a sky blue shirt from next season onwards.
