Liverpool are reportedly targeting Lyon winger Rayan Cherki as a replacement for Mohamed Salah should the Egyptian leave the side in the summer.
Salah is a Reds legend having scored 221 goals, and assisting a further 99, in 366 matches since joining the club in 2017.
The winger, who has lifted the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool, has extended his exceptional form into this season, striking 10 times in just 17 appearances in all competitions for Arne Slot’s resurgent side.
The club face a race against time, however, as the Anfield icon’s contract expires in the summer and he will be able to talk to foreign clubs about a move from January.
Now it has emerged that Liverpool are preparing for the future and have a keen interest in French star Cherki, according to L’Equipe.
French giants Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be eyeing up the Lyon winger with his future at the club remaining uncertain.
This could be Mohamed Salah’s last year at Liverpool and the Reds are lining up a replacement
The Egyptian has won a glut of trophies including the Champions League in a glitterinc career
Lyon’s Rayan Cherki is reportedly a target with the French side experiencing financial issues
Earlier this year, Cherki said: ‘I don’t think about what’s next at all.
‘My future will wait, until the end of the season. Lyon comes first. When the time comes to ask the question, we will ask it, but it is not yet the time.’
Cherki’s contract runs until 2026 but this will be extended by a year should he still be at the club by the end of next summer.
Club chiefs unsurprisingly want to keep the star, who was recently was called up for France’s under-21 side, but it is possible they might have to sell to improve their financial situation after it was reported the side are set for relegation from Ligue 1 due to a financial crisis.
Lyon, seven-time champions, will lose their top-flight status at the end of the season unless they improve their situation in the eyes of French football’s financial watchdog.
It would mark another hammer blow for the game in France after Bordeaux were demoted to the fourth tier due to bankruptcy this summer.
Lyon recently announced debts of £422million and have now been banned from signing players amid a looming possible relegation, according to L’Equipe and Get French Football News.
French giants Lyon are reportedly facing relegation unless they improve their finances
Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor majority owns Lyon and reportedly wants to balance the books at the French side by selling his stake in the Premier League outfit
Lyon won seven consecutive league titles in the 2000s but PSG have been dominant since
Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor majority owns Lyon through Eagle Football Holdings. He insisted a meeting with France’s National Directorate of Control and Management ‘went well’, but the watchdog seems to have disagreed.
French journalist Romain Molina has also claimed that ‘all Lyon players are on sale’ in a bid to reduce the club’s debts. They have also lost control of their payroll.
Many former Premier League stars call Lyon home. Their squad boasts Wilfried Zaha, Alexandre Lacazette, Nemanja Matic, Said Benrahma, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Jordan Veretout.
Other highly rated European stars such as Anthony Lopes, Corentin Tolisso, Rayan Cherki, Gift Orban, and Georges Mikautadze are also on their books.
Les Gones have been haemorrhaging money year-on-year and their financial model is based on consistent Champions League qualification.
However, they have not been in Europe’s elite competition since the 2019-20 season, when a side inspired by Memphis Depay and Bruno Guimaraes reached the semi-finals.
Their women’s team is one of the most successful in the world, having won 17 league titles and three Champions Leagues. The men’s team have won seven league titles, 14 domestic cups, and have been in the top flight continuously since 1989.
