Liverpool in pole position to sign ‘exceptional’ £24.7m attacker – report | OneFootball

Liverpool are in pole position to sign Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki.

According to a report from Foot Mercato , the Reds are strongly interested in signing the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, and they are “pushing” to get him on board in the January transfer window.

Paris Saint-Germain and Bayer Leverkusen are also in the race, and that is why Liverpool are looking to secure his services as soon as possible.

The Reds are choc-a-bloc with quality attackers, but Richard Hughes might feel that the club should start making long-term plans to replace Mohamed Salah, irrespective of whether the Egyptian signs a new contract or not at Anfield .

Rayan Cherki would be an exciting signing for Liverpool

Cherki has scored five goals and provided seven assists in all competitions for Lyon, and he is seen as an “exceptional” talent in France.

His impressive form has not gone unnoticed, and big clubs are vying for his signature.

Lyon are in a precarious financial position. The Ligue 1 club have been banned from recruiting players in the January window, and they will have to sell players to meet the financial criteria.

Cherki has a contract at Lyon until 2026 (with the option of extending for another year), and the French club have set his asking price at £24.7 million.

The Frenchman is a versatile playmaker. He can play as a central attacking midfielder, a left midfielder, a number ten, and a right-winger.

Known for his outstanding passing and set-piece-taking abilities, Cherki can bamboozle opposition defenders with his dribbling skills and mazy runs from midfield.

He is not the finished product yet, and that is why investing in him now makes a lot of sense. There is plenty of room for him to improve his rough edges, but he is definitely good enough to play for a club like Liverpool.

Under Arne Slot, he will be able to play alongside top-class players and elevate his game to a new level.

Liverpool will not mind paying the sum quoted for him, and if the player can be lured to move to Anfield, they may even get him at a reduced price.

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