Chelsea is reportedly considering the possibility of signing Rayan Cherki, the talented Lyon attacker. Despite being only 19 years old, Cherki has already gained a reputation as one of the most promising players in Europe. He burst onto the scene at the age of 16 and has since become a key figure in Lyon’s first team.
Cherki’s standout performance came in the 2019-20 Coupe de France, where he scored three goals and provided two assists in just three games. Throughout the 2022-23 season, he continued to impress, registering five goals and six assists in 39 appearances across various competitions.
He has already played for Lyon’s first team an impressive 102 times, contributing 14 goals and 16 assists. Additionally, he has gained valuable experience in European competitions like the Champions League and Europa League.
On the international stage, Cherki has represented France at the Under-21 level, showcasing his talent with five goals and three assists in 12 appearances. He has been instrumental in helping his nation reach the quarter-finals of the ongoing Under-21 European Championships.
Cherki is primarily comfortable playing as a right winger or a number 10, but he has also demonstrated his versatility by performing effectively as a left winger and center forward during the early stages of his Lyon career.
According to journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea has taken notice of Cherki’s abilities and is exploring the possibility of signing him in the current transfer window. Lyon recently secured Cherki’s services with a new contract that runs until 2025. However, it is unlikely that he would receive as much playing time at Chelsea as he currently enjoys at Lyon.
Chelsea has already taken steps to address their attacking weaknesses from the previous season, where no player managed to reach double figures in terms of goals. They have secured the signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig, with the deal being finalized several months after an agreement was reached and medical checks were completed. Additionally, Nicolas Jackson has joined the team from Villarreal.
However, Chelsea has also made some departures, with Kai Havertz being sold to Arsenal in a £65 million deal. Furthermore, it is expected that Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will also be leaving the club ahead of the new season.
Chelsea is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with Inter Milan for the sale of Lukaku, who would return to San Siro on loan with an obligation to buy in 2024. As for Aubameyang, there is interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, but he is currently not interested in a move to the Middle East.
Aubameyang has expressed his desire to return to Barcelona, but the chances of that happening are slim as Barcelona’s manager, Xavi, is not actively seeking a new striker this summer.