Could Manchester City take a chance on a Lyon maverick this summer? | OneFootball

Adding creativity to their midfield seems to be one move that could improve the Manchester City squad. With Kevin De Bruyne having said his goodbyes to the club and seemingly on his way to Napoli, Pep Guardiola’s squad could do with signing a player who can unlock a defence. One player with that particular skill set is Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki. Cherki is a precocious talent capable of the spectacular when on the ball. He is also a bit of a maverick as a player who doesn’t offer a lot out of possession.

Now two new reports indicate that Rayan Cherki is a potential for Manchester City. There is merit to the idea of City moving for Cherki but is it a risk that City will take? That’s not immediately clear at this stage.

Two new reports indicate that Rayan Cherki is a potential target for Manchester City.

Today, two reports emerged that indicate that Rayan Cherki is a potential target for Manchester City. Mike McGrath has reported for the Telegraph that Cherki is a potential target for City. Furthermore, McGrath reports that Rayan Cherki will leave Lyon this summer. McGrath adds that Cherki is believed to be available for a transfer fee between £20-25 million due to a release clause in his current contract.

Fabrizio Romano has also reported that Manchester City have an interest in potentially signing Rayan Cherki. Furthermore, Romano reports that Manchester City’s reported interest in Cherki is independent of their move for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. Romano’s report can be seen below.

Is a move for Rayan Cherki a risk that City are willing to take?

If Manchester City were in the market for a creative midfielder who solely thrives in the final third, Rayan Cherki would be at the top of the list. On the ball, there aren’t many better players than Cherki. At his best, he is a devastating player. He can pick out a pass, beat a man, and has an eye for goal. It isn’t a stretch to say that as a dribbler there aren’t many better in European football. Cherki’s ability in tight spaces is almost unparalleled in European football.

Across this season Cherki scored 12 goals and added 20 assists for Lyon in 44 appearances. Those are superb numbers which speak to Cherki’s creativity and talent in the final third. But football isn’t just played in possession. Manchester City defends as a team out of possession. That’s where the question mark surrounds any potential City move for Rayan Cherki.

Rayan Cherki isn’t a player who thrives out of possession. It isn’t a stretch to say that his defensive work is almost non-existent to a degree. To fit into a Pep Guardiola team Cherki would have to improve that side of his game. That is without question. But does that weakness in his game scare off Manchester City? Or is it an area of his game that could improve under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage? Neither question has an immediate answer at this stage.

The price tag of £20-25 million for a player with the obvious talent of Rayan Cherki almost seems too good to be true. But there are question marks that surround the defensive side of the game. But it could be a move that Manchester City pursue based on the obvious upside in Cherki’s game. If Pep Guardiola could get the best out of Cherki, he could be a potential world-beater. That’s the temptation in Manchester City moving for the Lyon playmaker. It’s a tantalising prospect and perhaps it is now a new story to monitor during the summer transfer window.