Liverpool kept their powder dry in the summer transfer window and it’s now been claimed that they are lining up a move for Lyon forward Rayan Cherki amid the French club’s financial struggles
Liverpool are said to have lodged a €20million (£17m) offer for Lyon forward Rayan Cherki in the wake of the Ligue 1 giants’ bleak financial situation.
It emerged earlier this week that the French club – owned by John Textor – have amassed almost £500m in debts and face relegation unless they can bring their finances under control before the end of the season per a ruling from The Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG).
That in turn has seemingly prompted interested parties to show their hand when it comes to Cherki, 21, who has impressed for Lyon this term.
TuttoJuve claim that Liverpool and Chelsea have even gone as far as making official bids for the forward, who is believed to have suitors across Europe. Intriguingly, he was also linked with the Reds back in the summer.
While Lyon would likely be loathe to lose Cherki midway through the season, their perilous financial position means that head coach Pierre Sage and co may not have a choice. Juventus are also interested in the France Under-21 star.
Textor – Lyon’s president whose Eagle Football Group also hold a 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace – has since attempted to play down talk of a possible demotion.
In a recent press conference, he revealed that Lyon needed to find around €100million (£83.6m) to stave off such a threat before stressing there was “no chance” of it happening.
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He said: “We will not be relegated, there is no chance. I know that our situation makes some sceptical. I prefer the Premier League system which punishes clubs differently. We have resources that go well beyond the club. Even if we fail on all our global initiatives, of €700 million, our owners will not let the group sink.
“There is no chance of being relegated.”
News of Liverpool’s renewed interest in Cherki comes at a time where summer signing Federico Chiesa is being linked with a return to Serie A. Reports in Italy outline that Inter Milan want to sign the former Juventus star on loan for six months with Chiesa finding regular game time hard to come by since moving to Anfield.
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