Arne Slot flies out for Cherki talks as Liverpool hold transfer due diligence
Liverpool’s pursuit of Florian Wirtz has been one of the Premier League’s biggest transfer stories of the summer so far.
The reigning champions are not content with standing still in the transfer market, and have their eyes set on one of Europe’s most promising talents.
Their Wirtz chase had seemingly hit a wall with a second bid being knocked back by Leverkusen, until it was revealed that FSG have granted permission to the club’s chief executive Michael Edwards to negotiate up to £150m if needed.
The Reds will want to get that deal concluded as quickly as possible to ensure it doesn’t drag on and prevent them from making other signings before the start of next season.
Liverpool are working on Cherki as a Wirtz alternative
Liverpool are pushing extremely hard to secure Wirtz’s signature, but with Leverkusen adamant that they won’t sell the midfielder for below their valuation, the Reds are still some distance from completing the deal.
As a result, they are also working on Lyon’s talented attacker Rayan Cherki as an alternative option if the Wirtz deal doesn’t get over the line.
Arne Slot is understood to have cut his holiday short last week in order to fly out and meet with Cherki and his representatives, with the Dutch boss keen to prepare potential back-up options, according to David Ornstein writing in the Athletic (3 June).
That decision was made before the club’s chase for Wirtz gathered pace, with Orstein stating that it is perfectly common to see clubs continue to work on potential alternative targets until a transfer is concluded.
It had previously been understood that Cherki’s contract contained a £19m release clause, but the French giants are now holding out for a substantially bigger fee, regardless of the fact that the 21-year-old’s current deal is set to expire at the conclusion of the next campaign.
The Reds are believed to be facing strong competition from Manchester City, who are hopeful of preventing the Frenchman from moving to L4.
Cherki would be a good Wirtz alternative for Liverpool
Lyon’s season has been largely overshadowed by talks of a potential relegation to Ligue 2, despite the fact they ultimately finished sixth and secured European football.
They are faced with a significant amount of debt, and according to L’Equipe (26 March), still need to reduce that majorly in order to fall in line with the financial regulations.
That need to raise funds will surely mean that Cherki will be on the move this summer, whether that is to Liverpool or somewhere else.
If the Reds were to miss out on Wirtz, the diminutive Frenchman would be a fantastic alternative.
Cherki has become a key component of Paulo Fonseca’s side this season, and no other Lyon player can match his 19 goal contributions in the league in 2024/25.
When you measure his stats in all competitions, Cherki’s campaign looks even more impressive. He notched 12 goals and 20 assists from just 44 appearances this term, by far the highest total of his fledgling career so far.
He appears ready for a big move, and if Liverpool’s pursuit of Wirtz proves unsuccessful, it would be no surprise to see them accelerate their push to sign Cherki instead.