Rayan Cherki has seemingly confirmed that he would be open to joining PSG this summer, in what could be a huge blow to Manchester United and his other suitors.
The Lyon wonderkid is expected to leave his boyhood club this summer as the Ligue 1 side remain in a fierce economic struggle. Lyon need to pay off huge debts before the end of the season or risk enforced relegation to Ligue 2.
“Don’t worry, we have money,” he claimed in a video doing the rounds on social media. “We’re spending it. Stop reading the press, you don’t have to worry. We’re not going to be relegated, we have the money. It’s the press that wants to hurt us.
“Obviously, we’re going through a bad time in France, but I put in €293 million, and you think I’m going to give up because they are asking me for €50m? We’re fine.”
Cherki open to PSG move
Be that as it may, Cherki is still expected to jump ship this summer after already being close to moving last year. PSG and Borussia Dortmund were vying for his signature in the summer of 2024, and the 21-year-old surprisingly prioritised a move to the Bundesliga side.
However, Dortmund were unable to reach an agreement with Lyon, and they again failed with an approach in January. They have once more been linked with him, but a summer move appears incredibly difficult.
Due to his impressive performances this season, Cherki has been fielding high-profile interest from elsewhere, with Man Utd now said to be among his suitors.
PSG were reportedly left unhappy with his antics last year, which has led to suggestions that they are no longer interested. However, Cherki, for his part, evidently regrets snubbing the Champions League finalists.
At an awards ceremony on Sunday evening, the attacker was asked whether he would feel ‘comfortable’ playing with PSG’s stars. “Oh yes, I know them all,” Cherki responded in the affirmative.
“Ousmane [Dembele], he’s a good friend of mine, Bradley [Barcola] too, obviously, when you have good affinities on the pitch, it’s also felt off it.” When pressed whether such a statement could be taken as a transfer hint, he chuckled, “I don’t know” with a wry smile.
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