Liverpool Get Major Transfer Boost As They Battle Premier League Rival For ‘New Eden Hazard’

Liverpool transfer target Rayan Cherki is hoping to “leave” Lyon this summer, according to Sports Zone.

The French sports news outlet claims that the Reds and Tottenham have made enquiries about the 20-year-old, along with Paris Saint-Germain.

Cherki had a decent season for Lyon, having scored 3 goals and provided 9 assists in 39 appearances, but many believe he still has untapped potential.

Some in the media have even dubbed him the next Eden Hazard due to his skill in possession and his ability to beat a man.

However, those comparisons have yet to be borne out on the pitch, despite Cherki having played 141 times at senior level.

Other Premier League clubs have pursued the Frenchman

Chelsea and Newcastle were mentioned as potential suitors for Cherki last summer. At the time, his asking price was said to be around €40m (£34m).

With the attacking midfielder now having only a year left on his contract, though, it’s unlikely that Lyon will hold out for that much.

Will Liverpool take a gamble on Cherki?

One of the biggest concerns about the France Under 23 international is his mentality. Speaking back in October last year, then-Lyon head coach Fabio Grosso questioned the player’s consistency and attitude:

“He has extraordinary potential. Everyone wants him to transform that potential into reality, into consistency. He has his destiny in his hands, because God has given him these incredible qualities, but he has to improve.”

“I liked how he was when he came on against Lorient, he showed a great attitude. If he can keep that consistency up for more than ten minutes, he’ll be a great player in the future.”

“He’s a player like the others, but with more technical qualities than the others. But there’s not only that. There are mental and physical qualities. He has to improve those. We’re working with him to do that.”

Liverpool’s recruitment department are usually excellent at assessing a player’s mental traits, in addition to their physical and technical attributes so, if the Reds do table a bid for Cherki, it will be because they feel they can unlock his talent.

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David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.