Chelsea Football Club has allegedly decided to halt their pursuit of Lyon’s young talent, Rayan Cherki, amidst concerns over the player’s attitude.
Despite the 19-year-old’s impressive performances in recent seasons, the London club appears to have shifted its focus elsewhere.
Cherki has already established himself as a regular first-team player for Lyon over the past couple of years.
During the 2022-23 campaign, he contributed directly to 11 goals from 39 matches in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, scoring five goals and providing six assists. In total, Cherki boasts an impressive record of 14 goals and 16 assists in 102 games for the French club.
The teenager has also displayed his talent on the international stage, with six goals and three assists for the French Under-21 team. Notably, he scored twice in the recent European Championships, though France’s U21 team faced a quarter-final defeat against Ukraine.
Cherki’s versatility is one of his key strengths, as he is equally comfortable playing on both wings and as a number 10 in the attacking midfield position. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Chelsea scouts closely monitoring his development over the past year.
While Newcastle United reportedly expressed interest in securing Cherki’s signature, Chelsea seemed to be the frontrunners. The Blues engaged in positive discussions with the player’s representatives, indicating their keenness to acquire his services.
However, journalist Nathan Gissing, via football.london, reported that Chelsea has now stepped back from the potential deal due to concerns surrounding Cherki’s off-field behavior.
The specific details of these alleged concerns remain undisclosed, but they seem to have been substantial enough to make Chelsea reconsider their pursuit of the talented winger.
The decision comes as Chelsea’s new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, seeks to establish a “healthy culture and atmosphere” at Stamford Bridge following the club’s disappointing 12th-placed finish in the previous Premier League season.
In their bid to strengthen the attacking department, Chelsea has already welcomed four new arrivals, including Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Diego Moreira, and Angelo Gabriel.
Despite the setback with Cherki, Pochettino has not ruled out the possibility of additional attacking signings.
Montpellier HSC starlet Elye Wahi has been linked with a potential move to Chelsea, with the club reportedly having a £24 million bid rejected.
However, there is still hope that Chelsea may be able to secure the young striker’s services, potentially through a loan arrangement with sister club Strasbourg.
Although the move for Cherki may no longer be in the cards, Chelsea fans can still expect further reinforcements.
The club is on the verge of completing deals for Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes and Axel Disasi from Monaco.
Ugochukwu, a 19-year-old midfielder, is likely to be loaned out for the upcoming season, while 25-year-old Disasi is set to bolster Chelsea’s defense following Wesley Fofana’s recent ACL injury.