Manchester City’s relationship with Lyon following the transfer of Rayan Cherki may have just helped the Premier League giants find a new club for a £45m star.
Man City completed the signing of Cherki as part of a £34m deal with the Ligue 1 club in June, which also contained an agreement for the French club to receive a player on loan.
Lyon were interested in Claudio Echeverri during the transfer window; however, that never got over the line as the Argentine star would join Bayer Leverkusen on loan instead.
Man City’s part of the Cherki agreement has yet to be upheld, and as a result, Lyon have an interest in several stars for the January transfer window.
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Lyon are now interested in Man City’s Kalvin Phillips
Kalvin Phillips remained at Man City beyond the summer transfer window due to the midfielder still recovering from his Achilles surgery, but the Englishman is expected to leave the Etihad Stadium in January.
There were not many clubs interested in the 29-year-old during the summer window; however, it has emerged that Lyon would be keen on signing the City star on loan for the second half of the 2025/26 campaign.
According to GOAL, Lyon will turn to Man City to add players to their squad in January, and Phillips is one of the players they are interested in, which will see the Premier League club uphold their agreement as part of the Cherki deal.
This is a transfer that works out for everyone as Lyon get the player they want, Phillips will get playing time, and Man City get an unwanted star off their books for half a season.
Man City fans were not happy that Phillips was still at the club when the transfer window closed, and only time will tell if this loan deal materialises, as Lyon may yet prefer other players in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
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Nico O’Reilly and Josh Wilson-Esbrand are also options for Lyon
The report states that Nico O’Reilly is also a player Lyon like, and if the midfielder does not get enough minutes during the first half of the season at City, Guardiola may be open to allowing the 20-year-old to leave.
O’Reilly had a breakout season at the Etihad Stadium last time around and will want to remain at the Premier League giants in order to force his way into City’s starting 11.
If that doesn’t work out, left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand is also on Lyon’s radar as the French club are keen to add a full-back to their squad.
Man City have to send a player to Lyon at some stage following the Cherki deal, and the Manchester club will be open to two of these players going, with O’Reilly being the toughest star for the Ligue 1 side to agree a deal for.
