Man City move decisively to sign Rayan Cherki ahead of fierce rivals | OneFootball

Manchester City are on the cusp of signing one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.

Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna claims they have agreed personal terms with Olympique Lyon star Rayan Cherki.

Negotiations are ongoing for a deal that could cost City over €40 million (£33.7m), but the Cityzens are pushing to finalise agreements before the Club World Cup kicks off in mid-June.

Cherki is coming off a fantastic campaign with Lyon, where he led the French giants to a sixth-placed finish and the Europa League quarter-final with 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions.

The 21-year-old has turned the heads of several heavy hitters around Europe with his flair, vision and ability to take the game by the scruff of its neck.

However, City are leading the race for the highly sought-after playmaker.

Manchester United have been strongly linked over the past couple of months. They’ve been tracking Cherki since his days in Lyon’s academy.

They reignited their interest in Cherki after his dazzling performance in the Europa League quarter-finals, where he scored three goals across two legs against Ruben Amorim’s side.

The Red Devils ultimately prevailed 7-6 on aggregate despite Cherki’s brilliance, but he certainly made his mark by tormenting United’s backline.

Despite United’s longstanding interest, they’ve been dragging their heels over a move for Cherki, paving the way for City to swoop.

It’ll be a devastating blow to United, but City are moving fast. The Cityzens initially wanted Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, but he is bound for Liverpool.

Cherki is seen as a cost-effective alternative, although he could prove to be a significant bargain.

City manager Pep Guardiola has already held direct talks with the Frenchman, detailing the club’s project and his role in an already star-studded squad.

Final discussions between City and Lyon are ongoing, but all signs point to a deal being completed soon.

The club are eager to wrap up the transfer quickly, not only to avoid late competition but also to ensure Cherki is integrated ahead of the Club World Cup campaign.