- Man City have opening talks with Lyon as they attempt to sign Rayan Cherki
- Cherki is valued around £35m after scoring 12 goals in 44 games this season
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Manchester City have opened talks with Lyon regarding a deal for midfielder Rayan Cherki.
Pep Guardiola, who is bringing in former Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders as his new assistant, has given the green light for City to bid for Cherki after holding talks with the 21-year-old.
Cherki is valued around £35million after scoring 12 goals in 44 games this season, including two against Manchester United in the Europa League.
He was also part of the France U23 team that won a silver medal at last summer’s Olympic Games.
Cherki has not yet been capped by France at senior international level, but he was recently handed his first call-up and could make his debut in Thursday’s UEFA Nations League final clash with Spain.
Speaking last month, Cherki said that Lyon will remain in his heart even if he moves on this summer.
Manchester City have opened talks with Lyon as they attempt to sign 21-year-old Rayan Cherki
Pep Guardiola has given the green light for City to bid for Cherki after holding talks with him
Cherki recently received his first senior France call-up and could make his debut on Thursday
‘I don’t know,’ he said when asked about his future. ‘In any case, I know I’ve given my all for the club. I’ve done everything I could for Lyon, because it’s a club I’ll never forget, one that will always be in my heart.
‘I stayed when a lot of players left. Today, I have no regrets. Whatever happens, I’ll give my all to the last minute for the club. I’ve only got Lyon on my mind, and I’d never call on anyone else.’
City have already put forward a bid of around £50m for AC Milan attacking midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.
The plan is for him to join in time to feature in the Club World Cup, which begins for them in Philadelphia against Wydad AC on June 18.
Should City succeed in signing both Cherki and Reijnders, it will put the prospect of Morgan Gibbs-White joining from Nottingham Forest into doubt.
City are also keen on Wolves left back Rayan Ait-Nouri, while Kevin De Bruyne is poised to join Napoli on a free.
