‘One of the greatest technicians in Europe’ – Why are Premier League giants like Manchester City chasing Lyon’s Rayan Cherki?

Rayan Cherki to Manchester City could be one of the more intriguing moves of the summer transfer window.

The 21-year-old Frenchman’s skillset is dazzling and his trick-filled highlights reel makes for a very easy watch.

But he can be an off-the-cuff player and has admitted that he enjoys it when football is less “robotic”.

Does that style of player slot into a well-drilled Pep Guardiola team? Is Cherki’s creative juice what Manchester City need after a below-par season?

We take a deeper dive to find out…

Cherki’s numbers speak for themselves.

Last season, he notched up 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions for Lyon and was named the UEFA Europa League Young Player of the Season.

He finished the Europa League leading the way for most assists (eight), most goal involvements (12), most big chances created (15), most chances created from open play (38), and most key passes (46).

That’s despite Lyon going out in the quarter-finals after a crushing late defeat to Manchester United.

“He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now,” said TNT Sports expert Julien Laurens about Cherki.

“Right foot, left foot, he has got everything.”

But where would Cherki fit at Manchester City?

At Lyon, Cherki has played in several roles in the attack, including as a No. 10 or on the wings.

City already have a number of options on the wing and in the middle led by Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva.

But Cherki’s stats from last season compare favourably against most of them, plus De Bruyne’s departure opens the door for another playmaker.

Cherki v Man City attackers in 2024/25

“I think he is that No. 10 where you have to give him a bit of a free role,” said TNT Sports expert Rio Ferdinand about Cherki earlier this year.

“He is not an out-and-out winger, you give him license to drift and ask the full-back questions. 

“I’m really interested to see when he does go, does he level up?”

Since Pep Guardiola took charge at Manchester City in 2016, there have not been many tricky flair players who have thrived at the club.

Riyad Mahrez might have been the last, with City’s style instead focused on being more methodical, structured, and disciplined; more about the team unit rather than individuals.

Jack Grealish is a recent example of a player who had a free role to express himself at his previous club but has struggled to shine at Man City.

With Grealish seemingly heading for the exit this summer, perhaps this is the time for City to add another inventive spark to the team.

They are, after all, coming off the back of a disappointing season when for long periods they looked flat and lacked creativity in attack.

Cherki has shown he can be a gamechanger, with Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette comparing him this season to former Arsenal No. 10 Mesut Ozil.

“Rayan, in everyday life, is a bit special, different and on the pitch, you see that too. This season, he has managed to raise his level,” said Lacazette.

“I would put Ozil in a different category but, with time, Rayan can get close to him.”

The comparisons don’t stop there.

So gifted on the ball is Cherki that he has been compared to one of the greats of the game.

But Cherki himself follows the lead of another legend.

“I had lots of idols, but the one that I think is the best and the example to follow is Cristiano Ronaldo. Regarding his work and his longevity, that is the example that you have to follow,” he said.

Cherki was one of only two non-Paris Saint-Germain players named in the 2024/25 Ligue 1 Team of the Season (along with Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier).

He also won the Best Dribbler of the Season award, which was presented to him by former Chelsea star Eden Hazard.

Eurosport France’s Vincent Bregevin thinks Cherki’s improvements over the last season have made him “ready” for a move to the Premier League.

“He has incredible talent, but he developed other aspects of his game, off-the-ball plays and defensive work-rate especially, but there is still room for improvement.

“I think he stepped up physically this season, and that’s an essential tool to succeed in the Premier League. He’s ready for this step.

“He can play and perform in different positions, that already tells us about his tactical flexibility and the way he can read the game in advance. He sees things others don’t see, or before they can see it. And he can take this to another level with time, and depending on who’s around him.”