Liverpool have reportedly received a significant boost in their efforts to sign Rayan Cherki, whom Lyon have decided to sell in the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old has long been regarded as one of the jewels in the crown of the Ligue 1 side, who were handed an astonishing provisional relegation to Ligue 2 earlier this year due to financial difficulties.
Les Gones are confident that they will raise enough money to avoid an unthinkable demotion to the second tier, although they may have to sell off some of their prized assets in order to do so.
Cherki is among the Lyon players whom the seven-time French champions could garner a reasonable fee through selling, and given that his contract only runs until 2026, a parting of the ways is increasingly likely this summer.
Liverpool are said to have held an interest in Cherki for some time, and according to The Sun, the Reds have now received encouragement in their efforts to bring him to Anfield.
Lyon 'decide to sell Cherki' amid Liverpool talk
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Les Gones have apparently given the green light to Cherki's sale this summer, as the two parties have agreed that the club will not stand in the player's way of moving on for the right price.
However, the Reds will not be alone in the race for the 2003-born France Under-21 international, as they are said to be just one of at least five teams plotting a swoop during the summer window.
Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are also reported to be keeping tabs on his future, and the latter even tried their luck with a £19m approach in January, which was turned down.
Lyon are believed to have rejected a bid from Fulham in early 2024, but the Cottagers retain an interest, while Crystal Palace could also throw their hat into the ring if Eberechi Eze leaves.
Cherki broke into the Lyon first team at just 16 years of age and has already represented Les Gones on 175 occasions, scoring 25 goals and providing 42 assists in all competitions.
A strong 2024-25 campaign has seen the youngster produce eight goals and a staggering 18 assists in 34 games - including a remarkable eight Europa League assists - and he scored one goal and set up two more for France's Under-21s in a 5-3 win over England on Friday.
Could Cherki succeed Mohamed Salah at Liverpool?
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Formerly tipped to become the next big thing in the number 10 position, Cherki has produced most of his strong work from the right-hand side this season, contributing 10 assists from 14 games on that flank.
The 21-year-old remains an incredibly versatile player and could very well do a job centrally or on the left for Liverpool, his exploits on the right hint that he could be the heir to the Mohamed Salah throne.
Salah still has not extended his contract beyond the end of the season, and neither Federico Chiesa nor Harvey Elliott have made a name for themselves with Slot in charge so far.
Cherki may not be able to replicate Salah's stellar goalscoring numbers, but the 21-year-old is proven himself as a terrific playmaker, and Liverpool could replace Salah's goals with the signing of a marquee centre-forward as well as Cherki.
Ben Knapton
