Rayan Cherki, Olympique Lyonnais’ 21-year-old striker under contract until 2026 following his extension last summer, was announced as one of Paris Saint-Germain’s concrete targets for the summer mercato. The player then appeared to be close to Borussia Dortmund, but this never materialized. Rumors are now rife of a Parisian interest for the winter. L’Equipe provided an update on the matter on Friday.
“ In private, Lyon’s directors insist that they want to keep their player until the end of the season, with the aim of maintaining the best possible team to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the Champions League. This is a laudable ambition, but it may well come up against a number of realities, not least OL’s obligation to sell at the next mercato.
The 21-year-old from Lyon has an absolute dream: Real Madrid, but it’s a little early yet. Liverpool are said to have made enquiries. The player is sensitive to the performance of the French Bundesliga side, a land of playing time and progress. Paris SG could also be interested, as Luis Campos likes the player. If he maintains this level, he and OL will have offers. His contractual situation and current form value him at around €25m.”
We’re still cautious, as there’s nothing concrete and a number of players are mentioned in PSG’s sights (as usual). So it’s hard to see things clearly. Clearly, not everyone will be recruited. There won’t even be the beginnings of an offer for everyone, and Cherki may well be one of those players to be overlooked.
But a possible attempt, should the opportunity arise, cannot be ruled out either. He’s a versatile young talent who needs to grow, and that fits in with the project. It may also depend on the price, other possibilities and Cherki’s state of mind. If he’s really thinking about Real Madrid, PSG might not want to relive such a soap opera.
