Chelsea have allegedly ended their interest in Lyon protege Rayan Cherki due to concerns over the winger's attitude.
Despite being just 19 years of age, Cherki has already been a first-team regular for Les Gones for the past couple of seasons and enjoyed his most productive campaign to date in 2022-23.
Cherki directly contributed to 11 goals from 39 matches across Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, netting five of his own while providing six assists, taking his total for Lyon to 14 goals and 16 assists in 102 games.
The teenager also has six goals and three assists under his belt from 14 appearances for France at Under-21 level, including two strikes at the recent European Championships as Les Bleuets lost to Ukraine in the quarter-finals.
A versatile player, Cherki is comfortable on both wings and through the middle as a number 10, and Chelsea scouts are believed to have been tracking his development over the past year.
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Newcastle United were supposedly ready to rival Chelsea for Cherki's signature, but the Blues are said to have held positive discussions with the 19-year-old's representatives.
However, according to journalist Nathan Gissing - via football.london - Chelsea have now been put off by concerns about Cherki's off-field behaviour.
It is unclear what those alleged attitude concerns entail, but it has been serious enough for the Blues to drop out of the race for the Lyon man, whose contract only runs for another two years.
On the back of their miserable 12th-placed Premier League finish last season, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has apparently made it a priority to create a "healthy culture and atmosphere" at Stamford Bridge this season.
Furthermore, the West London club have already reinforced their attacking ranks with four new arrivals, welcoming Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Diego Moreira and Angelo Gabriel to the club.
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Pochettino has refused to rule out the prospect of more strikers arriving at Chelsea, amid talk of a potential swoop for Montpellier HSC starlet Elye Wahi.
The Blues have reportedly seen a £24m bid for Wahi rejected, but the Blues have not given up hope of luring the 20-year-old to the Premier League, although he may first be loaned out to sister club Strasbourg.
While a move for Cherki is seemingly dead in the water, Chelsea are expected to seal a further two Ligue 1-based signings in the near future, having agreed deals for Lesley Ugochukwu and Axel Disasi.
The Blues will supposedly pay around £23.2m for 19-year-old Rennes midfielder Ugochukwu, whom Pochettino has confirmed will likely leave on loan for the upcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, a £38.5m bid for Disasi has been accepted by Monaco, as the 25-year-old prepares to strengthen a Chelsea backline weakened by the recent loss of Wesley Fofana to an ACL injury.
Ben Knapton
