Lyon have reportedly named their price for one of Liverpool’s top targets to replace Mohamed Salah, as the French side look to sell players to improve their dire financial situation.
Salah is an Anfield icon, having bagged 221 goals and assisting a further 99 in 366 games since arriving at the club in 2017.
The Egyptian, who has won the Premier League and the Champions League with the Reds, has continued his remarkable form this campaign, striking 10 times in just 17 matches in all competitions for Arne Slot’s resurgent side.
But with the winger’s contract expiring in June, Liverpool face a race against time to either secure his services or find a replacement, given he will be able to talk to foreign clubs about a move as early as January.
Over the international break it emerged that the Reds are preparing for Salah’s departure and have a keen interest in Lyon’s Rayan Cherki.
Now the Ligue 1 giants have revealed their asking price for the Frenchman as things continue to move at a heady pace, Foot Mercato reports.
Lyon have named their price for Rayan Cherki who remains a target for Arne Slot’s Liverpool
This could be Mohamed Salah’s last year at Liverpool and the Reds are lining up a replacement
Cherki has been called up to the France under-21s after impressing in his 11 Lyon appearances
Lyon are believed to be demanding a fee starting at around £25-29million, more than double the £12.5m they were willing to sell him to Fulham for in the summer.
As Liverpool’s interest emerged for Cherki, it became clear they would face stern competition to land the mercurial winger with Paris Saint-Germain also keen to swoop in for the star.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are also thought to have joined the race as they look to strenghthen their Bundesliga-winning side from last season.
Club chiefs unsurprisingly want to keep Cherki, who was recently called up for France’s under-21 side, and has impressed in his 11 appearances in all competitions this campaign.
The winger’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.
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.’
But is possible Lyon cannot afford to be too fussy, with the seven-time champions staring down the barrel of a financial crisis and possible relegation.
The star winger has also emerged as a possible signing for Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen
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
In fact, the side were ‘provisionally relegated’ this month, meaning they 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 possible relegation, according to L’Equipe.
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.
Les Gones have been hemorrhaging 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.
The situation has led French journalist Romain Molina to claim 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.
Lyon’s model is based on Champions League qualification but they have not been in it since their magical run to the semi-final in 2020
Lyon is the home of ex-Premier League stars such as Alexandre Lacazette and Said Benrahma
Liverpool are fighting to tie legends including Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold to new deals
Other highly rated European stars such as Anthony Lopes, Corentin Tolisso, Gift Orban, and Georges Mikautadze are also on their books.
Lyon 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.
Things are looking decidedly better for Liverpool with the side currently flying under Slot and leading the Premier League by five points, conceding just six goals in their opening 11 matches.
Fears are mounting, however, over a summer exodus of some of their most beloved names with talks said to be ongoing to secure the futures of Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
