Lyon star Rayan Cherki makes key decision over Liverpool move as £25m transfer edges closer

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Liverpool’s summer transfer window holds plenty of intrigue as the Reds prepare for a Premier League title defence.

There is still room for improvement within the Liverpool squad despite having won the league at their first go under Arne Slot.

And with ‘heavyweight’ arrivals predicted at Anfield this summer, Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes appear determined to push on from a position of strength.

While that is likely to include signing a new left-back and centre-forward, it could also mean Liverpool adding some creativity from the midfield.

Liverpool have lacked a certain unpredictability from their midfielders this season and Dominik Szoboszlai has often been criticised for a lack of goals and assists.

The Reds could remedy this in the market and have been heavily linked with a move for Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki. And as Cherki prepares to leave his boyhood club this summer, he has now reportedly decided that Anfield should be his next destination.

Rayan Cherki prioritising Liverpool move

Cherki has had a fantastic season with Lyon as he aims to take the next step in his development. Still only 21, the Frenchman has hit 12 goals and 19 assists this term.

Despite his quality, though, Cherki’s contract has become an issue at Lyon. As a result, Give Me Sport report that he will be available for as little as £25m this summer.

The outlet also have an update on Liverpool’s part in Cherki’s summer saga, claiming that the player himself has installed the Reds as his favoured move.

But although Cherki is said to be keen on Liverpool above any other club, the Reds themselves are reportedly not yet sold on the idea of him joining.

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Liverpool are said to be doing ‘stringent personality checks’ for any potential new signings and with Slot reportedly looking for very specific traits in the market, it is not guaranteed they will make a move for Cherki.

That hasn’t stopped his agent from approaching the Reds, though, and it’s claimed that, for their part, Liverpool have been scouting Cherki as they weigh up whether or not to make an approach.

Cherki is a genuine option for Liverpool

With Liverpool likely to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer, they are going to have to address a lack of creativity in the rest of the team at some stage.

Someone will need to replace Alexander-Arnold’s chance creation, and although there are candidates to do that internally, it is likely to come from the transfer market.

In that respect, Cherki should be a genuine option for Liverpool. There have been some question marks over his attitude and application in the past, but the youngster now looks to have matured and is delivering consistently for Lyon.

So, seven years on from pulling the plug on a deal for Nabil Fekir, maybe Liverpool will finally get their creative Lyonnais after all.

“Cherki is comparable to Messi in terms of technical quality,” former Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas once said of Cherki. If their checks all come back green, then Liverpool could have a free run at an excellent piece of business this summer.