Chelsea Set to Make Opening Bid for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki
Chelsea Football Club is reportedly preparing an opening bid for Lyon attacker Rayan Cherki as they seek to replace the departing Christian Pulisic. The west London club has already experienced a busy summer, with 10 first-team players leaving and approximately £200 million generated from those sales. However, manager Mauricio Pochettino is looking to further trim his squad. Players such as Romelu Lukaku, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, and Callum Hudson-Odoi are expected to be offloaded in the near future.
While Chelsea has already added Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku to their ranks this summer, the significant exodus has left the team lacking options in both midfield and attack. As a result, they are actively pursuing Brighton’s Moises Caicedo to reinforce their midfield. Additionally, ESPN reports that Chelsea has identified Rayan Cherki as the ideal candidate to bolster their attacking options.
Cherki, a 19-year-old Lyon player, is considered one of the most promising young talents in France. He impressed last year with four goals and six assists in Ligue 1, particularly towards the end of the season. He continued his excellent form in the Under-21 European Championship, catching the attention of Chelsea scouts despite France’s disappointing campaign.
Lyon values Cherki at around €40 million (£34 million) and is willing to cash in on him due to their struggles to comply with France’s financial fair play rules. To fund any new additions, Lyon will likely have to sell several players, with defender Castello Lukeba also linked with a move to RB Leipzig.
Chelsea and Lyon have a good relationship dating back to their deal for Malo Gusto in January. They have also been in contact recently regarding Pulisic, although the American has decided to join AC Milan instead. Chelsea is particularly attracted to Cherki’s versatility, as he can play on either wing, as a No.10, a second striker, or even as a false nine.
In addition to Cherki, Chelsea is also monitoring Montpellier forward Elye Wahi, who is a more traditional striker. Both players fit the profile of young and promising talents that the club’s recruitment team is eager to sign.
As Chelsea continues its summer transfer activity, they have instructed a second unwanted player to delay their return to Cobham for pre-season training. The club is actively working to strengthen its squad and build a competitive team for the upcoming season.
Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo has expressed his eagerness to join Chelsea this summer, stating that he cannot say no to the opportunity. The club’s recruitment team is actively pursuing the talented midfielder and hopes to secure his signature in the near future.
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In conclusion, Chelsea Football Club is making moves in the transfer market to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. With the departure of Christian Pulisic, the club is targeting Lyon’s Rayan Cherki as a potential replacement. Cherki’s versatility and impressive performances have caught the attention of Chelsea scouts. Lyon is willing to sell Cherki due to financial constraints and may need to offload other players as well. Alongside Cherki, Chelsea is also monitoring Montpellier’s Elye Wahi as they seek to sign promising young talents. Stay tuned for further updates on Chelsea’s transfer activities.