5 days Ago By [email protected] (Alex James)
Manchester City would love to sign Florian Wirtz this summer - but the Bayer Leverkusen star will come at a cost. It could well take £100m+ to prize him away, and while Pep Guardiola's side are well set financially the scale of the rebuild at the Etihad means that pricetag could be prohibitive. Wirtz is a superb talent and has all the hallmarks to slot seamlessly into the City system.
But there are alternatives out there. And one, Rayan Cherki, could be a viable option. The Lyon man has enjoyed a superb season and will look to help his side reach the Europa League semi-finals this week, eliminating Manchester United in the process.
A precocious talent, the 21-year-old has seemingly married ability with work-rate and is reaping the rewards. He is flourishing at Lyon - having been linked with a move to Crystal Palace and Fulham last summer - and is now one of the most talked about young talents in European football. He is one of the most creative players in Europe and, out of contract next year, could be set for a big move this summer.
He has been linked with a clutch of top clubs - including Manchester United and Liverpool - and could be available for around £20million - a sizeable saving on Wirtz. And while Cherki is a different type of player, perhaps more eye-catching but also more unpredictable and possibly more unreliable, there can be no doubting his talent. He predominantly plays wide on the right but can operate across the forward line and is two-footed.
Indeed his long-term position is likely at number 10, and his coming of age season this term has elevated him to new heights. He was outstanding for France Under-21s in a win over England last month and has 17 goal involvements in 25 matches in the French top flight this season, plus 11 in 10 starts in the Europa League, including that last minute leveller against Man United last week. He made quite the impression on Thierry Henry, who knows a thing or two about forward play and hitting the heights in the Premier League.
When the Arsenal great was in charge of France Under-21s last year, he called Cherki into the squad having initially left him out, seemingly a challenge to bring his mentality up to the standards of his football ability. “He has woken up,” Henry said in a press conference. “That’s good.
Not seeing his name on the list should have annoyed him. He needs to show consistency because there is a huge difference between sometimes showing character and showing character all the time. “I’m not talking about his quality because I have never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him, with both feet.
" He's long been touted for the top and is now realising that potential. As Henry said a year ago, he has woken up..
