Tottenham are in the driving seat for one of France’s brightest young stars, with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki firmly on their radar heading into the summer window.
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Rayan Cherki for some time now, with initial interest surfacing during the winter window.
It was reported back then that Tottenham explored a move for Cherki, though nothing concrete materialised at the time. Spurs have since continued to monitor the 21-year-old closely.
Earlier this month, Tottenham scouts were in attendance to watch Cherki live, with the Frenchman making a decisive impact by scoring a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United in the Europa League.
Following their scouting, reports suggest that the north London club’s representatives were left impressed by his overall display.
Tottenham lead race for Lyon star Rayan Cherki
While Spurs are not the only side eyeing a move for Cherki, they are reportedly at the front of the queue for his signature.
According to a fresh report from Caught Offside, Tottenham Hotspur are currently leading the race to land the highly-rated Ligue 1 talent.
Manchester United are also in the mix and remain a strong contender. The Frenchman has registered 12 goals and 19 assists for Lyon this season. The Ligue 1 side are said to value him at around £26-30 million (€30-35 million).
It is reported that Rayan Cherki’s low price tag, when compared to his peers, is one of the reasons why interest is strong from both Tottenham and Man United.
Premier League clubs circle as Cherki considers move
Of course, given the relatively modest asking price for a player with 31 goal contributions this season, several other top European clubs are believed to be watching developments closely.
Bayern Munich have also been linked, while AC Milan, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are all reportedly keeping tabs on Cherki’s situation.
Crystal Palace have emerged as a surprise suitor, viewing the creative midfielder as a potential replacement should Eberechi Eze depart Selhurst Park this summer.
Cherki is understood to be open to a fresh challenge and sees the Premier League as the ideal environment to take the next step in his career and test himself at the highest level.
With a host of clubs circling, it will be interesting to see where he ends up come the start of next season.
