Rayan Cherki looks set to join Man City from Lyon this summer despite holding talks with Liverpool earlier this month
Rayan Cherki to City? Liverpool Had Their Chance – But Wirtz Is the Real Target
So, it looks like Rayan Cherki has one foot in the door at Manchester City — and honestly, I’m not all that surprised. The 21-year-old’s been making noise for a while now, and after his electric cameo for France the other night (goal and assist in just a half, by the way), he’s clearly ready for the next step.
What stings a bit — or maybe just frustrates — is that Liverpool actually had talks with him earlier this month. Yes, proper sit-down stuff with Arne Slot. But let’s be real: it wasn’t a full-court press. It turns out the meeting was arranged well before our interest in Florian Wirtz really heated up.
And here’s the kicker: Wirtz is the only attacking midfielder we’ve actually tabled an offer for. Cherki? He was basically a backup plan — a “Plan B” if Leverkusen weren’t playing ball. But they are. Talks are ongoing, and despite no fee agreed just yet, all sides sound confident this Wirtz deal is getting done.
Meanwhile, over at the Etihad, City have gone all-in on Cherki. Funny how they pulled out of the Wirtz chase, and now they’re pushing for the Lyon lad. First bid rejected (as you’d expect — classic negotiation tactics), but it feels like a matter of time before they get their man. Cherki himself even admitted it’s “getting done,” and you could hear it in his voice — he knows where he’s going.
He did throw in the old “one more game to play” line, referring to France’s Nations League third-place match against Germany, but let’s be honest — that transfer’s basically cooking.
And here’s a fun little twist: City need to wrap the deal by 7pm on Tuesday, June 10, if they want him in their squad for the Club World Cup. So the clock’s ticking.
As for us Reds? We’re all-in on Wirtz — and rightly so. He’s the bigger prize. No disrespect to Cherki, who’s got loads of flair and potential, but Wirtz walks into our starting XI. Cherki would’ve been more of a gamble.
If City want to take that shot, fair play to them. We’re aiming higher — and if we land Wirtz, it’s a serious statement of intent from Slot’s Liverpool.