A fresh transfer target emerges as Manchester City seek to add more creativity to their ranks | OneFootball

The announcement last week that Kevin De Bruyne would leave Manchester City at the end of the season does represent the end of an era at the club. De Bruyne has helped City become one of the powerhouses of English and European football over the past decade. But his imminent departure does leave a hole in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Manchester City will need to add more creativity to their squad this summer. It is a clear weakness in the current City squad. De Bruyne’s decline as a player, coupled with a host of Manchester City’s players not being at their best this season, has harmed City’s attacking play. That has been clear to see all season long. Now Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki has been named as a potential summer target for Manchester City. He’d fill the void in Pep Guardiola’s squad given what he could potentially add to the City squad.

Steve Kay has reported for Football Transfers that Rayan Cherki is looming as an alternative target for Manchester City if they cannot sign Florian Wirtz. Furthermore, Kay reports that Bayer Leverkusen’s asking price of between €130-150 million may be too steep for City to pay. Kay reports that Manchester City may be looking to sign up to 5 players this summer and they may not be willing to pay such a steep price for Wirtz. If that proves to be the case, then Rayan Cherki has emerged as a cheaper alternative to the German international, as per Kay’s report.

Rayan Cherki fits the mould of what Manchester City need to add this summer.

Rayan Cherki is a player who would instantly add the creativity Manchester City’s squad is screaming out for. He has tremendous technical ability and his ability to pick out a pass and create for his teammates is almost second to none. For Lyon, he has starred this season. In 36 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 9 goals and added 18 assists. Those are superb numbers. But numbers aside, the way he plays is what makes him such a good player.

In an era where systems thrive, Cherki is somewhat of a maverick. He drifts all over the pitch for Lyon and his tremendous technical ability makes him a nightmare for opponents. Cherki can play as a number 10 or on either wing. He is blessed with the ability to play in tight spaces and his eye for a pass is a weapon in his game. Given that Manchester City tend to play against low defensive blocks most weeks, that ability, coupled with Cherki’s dribbling ability, would add another weapon to City’s armoury. Cherki also has an eye for goal which City are screaming out for. He does need to work on the defensive side of his game, but as an attacking weapon, he is one of the most dangerous attacking players in Europe.

If Manchester City can’t sign Florian Wirtz this summer Rayan Cherki would be a player who would add something different to Pep Guardiola’s squad. There is merit to the idea of City pursuing him this summer. He’s now just one more player to monitor to see if Manchester City do move for him at the end of the season. But if City are determined to add more creativity and an attacking threat to their play then Cherki may be the player to fill that void.