Manchester United have joined the race to sign Rayan Cherki and are ready to outbid their rivals to land the Lyon sensation, according to reports in France.
Cherki is set to leave Lyon at the end of the season after a thrilling campaign in France, scoring 12 times and laying on 20 assists.
The attacking midfielder’s contract expires in the summer of 2026 but confirmed his decision to leave the club last weekend.
‘Thanks to OL, the coach, the staff, the president, my team-mates and all people at the club,’ Cherki was reported as saying after Lyon ended the Ligue 1 campaign in sixth place with a 2-0 home win over Angers on Saturday.
Reports in France claim Cherki has an agreement with Lyon to leave this summer for a modest fee of €25million (£18.9m) with Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham among his admirers.
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Le Progres now report United are firmly in the race.
Ruben Amorim’s side got a first-hand look at the Frenchmen during their Europa League quarter-final clash with Lyon with Cherki scoring in both legs, giving United serious problems back at Old Trafford.
The report adds United will be willing to offer ‘well beyond’ that agreed €25million fee if it means they get their man.
United have however already made moves to reinforce their attacking options with a deal agreed to sign Mathues Cunha from Wolves.
The Premier League giants have agreed to pay his £62m release clause, to be paid in instalments, with Cunha keen to make the move to Manchester despite interest from elsewhere.
Amorim has utilised two no10s in his 3-4-3 formation with Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Mason Mount and Alejandro Garnacho operating in those positions, with Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee also deployed there.
Any move for Cherki in addition to Cunha could depend on outgoing business at Old Trafford with Garnacho and Mainoo two players who could be sold for the right price.
Liverpool meanwhile have wasted little time in strengthening their squad ahead of the summer with Jeremie Frimpong set to join the club to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of his move to Real Madrid.
Arne Slot’s side are also in the race to sign German sensation Florian Writz from Bayer Leverkusen with Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez also among their targets.