Manchester United would love to sign Lyon starlet Rayan Cherki.
That is according to Mundo Deportivo, as cited by the Manchester Evening News, and it’s the first we’ve heard of the attacking midfielder.
The Catalan-based newspaper claims Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus are all tracking the player, so United face plenty of competition if their reported interest is genuine.
READ MORE: Ex-Birmingham youth coach gives transfer advice to youngster amid Man Utd links
The 16-year-old made his debut for Lyon in October and has made 12 appearances so far this term. Nobody knows when football will resume — currently suspended over the coronavirus pandemic — but it would be interesting to know, if United were tracking Cherki up until this point, if they’ve gathered enough information from scouting reports to justify meeting his price tag.
Transfermarkt value him at £18m and his Lyon contract expires in 2022.
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However, the report says Real Madrid have first refusal on the Frenchman but the La Liga giants have yet to make their stance clear.
There’s going to be a lot of uncertainty prior to the transfer market, with clubs short a chunk of their annual match day revenue, so Cherki may be best spending another year at Lyon and trying to become a regular in their first team before moving?
Cherki himself has suggested that he would like to join the Madrid giants one day, potentially following in the foot steps of former Lyon striker Karim Benzema.
In an interview with the club’s official TV channel, the youngster revealed who his favourite team was after Lyon, “Definitely Real Madrid. My dream is to play for Real and win the Ballon d’Or,” he said (quotes via Managing Madrid).
Rayan Cherki: "My favorite club after Lyon? Definitely Real Madrid" https://t.co/dN9qr2C7dr
— Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) March 26, 2020
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