(Football news) Following the departure of club legend Kevin De Bruyne, the Citizens have been strongly linked with a summer swoop for the 21-year-old since opting to move away from a deal to recruit former top target Florian Wirtz, who is close to joining Liverpool.
Manchester City supporters were given a promising glimpse of Cherki’s talent when he made his international debut for France in last Thursday’s dramatic 5-4 defeat to Spain in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals.
Cherki, who scored a stunning goal and assisted another during a superb 27-minute cameo appearance, dropped a major hint after the match to suggest that he is edging closer to completing a move to Manchester City.
After allegedly failing with an opening offer of around €22.5m (£18.9m), the Citizens returned with an improved offer for Cherki and have now struck an agreement with Lyon to bring the youngster to the Etihad Stadium.
Man City agree £34.5m deal to sign Cherki from Lyon
Indeed, it was first reported by L’Equipe that an agreement between Man City and Lyon was reached on Monday morning and Cherki is expected to sign a five-year contract in the ‘coming hours’.
While multiple reports and sources have stated that the total fee agreed has not been revealed, it is also claimed that Lyon will receive a €35m (£29.5m) package with €6m (£5m) in add-ons.
It was also added that Cherki, who has already spoken to Pep Guardiola, is scheduled to travel to the blue side of Manchester on Monday before undergoing a medical and signing his contract on Tuesday.
The Citizens are pushing to complete the signing of Cherki before the first summer transfer window closes at 7.00pm on Tuesday ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Confirmation of Manchester City also signing left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is thought to be imminent, as both players have now passed their medicals ahead of leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers and AC Milan respectively.
Manchester City on verge of signing “absolute superstar” Cherki
Cherki is set to depart his boyhood club Lyon where he spent nine years in their academy before making 185 senior appearances in all competitions since his debut in October 2019.
The versatile attacker, who is comfortable operating as a number 10 or on either flank, enjoying an excellent 2024-25 campaign with the Ligue 1 giants, recording 12 goals and 22 assists in 44 appearances.
He contributed to 12 goals in as many Europa League matches – four goals and a tournament-high eight assists – for a Lyon outfit who reached the quarter-finals, and his form was rewarded with the Young Player of the Season award.
Cherki has been labelled an “absolute superstar” by Manchester City specialist and he has the potential to develop into “one of the best” players in world football under Guardiola.
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