Rayan Cherki was on Liverpool’s radar during the January transfer window, but he appears to have decided to stay with Lyon for the time being.
Last week, CaughtOffside revealed that the Reds had made an enquiry about the playmaker, whose agents had been seeking to find him other clubs given the Ligue 1 club’s financial problems.
On Monday, a prominent European journalist published the specifics of an offer made to OL for the 21-year-old.
Lyon rejected Dortmund’s offer for Cherki.
Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg stated on X this morning that Borussia Dortmund had made a €22.5 million offer for Rayan Cherki in the last few hours. Lyon have declined the offer. BVB have not given up hope and are still pursuing a transfer.”
He later provided an update on the matter, stating: “Lyon still does not want to allow Rayan Cherki go. The agreement is really difficult.
“When asked by Sky, OL officials stated that several offers from BVB had been rejected and that Lyon were unwilling to continue negotiations over Cherki.” According to OL sources, Dortmund is ‘too late’.
Could Liverpool sign Cherki in the summer?
Dortmund have been more persistent than Liverpool in their pursuit of Cherki in recent days, but Lyon’s rejection of their £18.7 million offer demonstrates their determination to keep the playmaker.
The Reds are unlikely to pursue the 21-year-old in the waning hours of the current transfer season, but the French teenager could be available in the summer.
Even before BVB’s last-minute bid for the Lyon star, Anfield looked to recognize that the possibility of a mid-season raid was remote.
The dynamic winger/number 10 has five goals and nine assists in 26 games this season, delivering solid G/A numbers for Paulo Fonseca’s side as they strive for a European finish despite the prospect of relegation owing to serious financial difficulties.
With a deadline-day deal for Cherki now seeming doubtful, Liverpool will have a few months to examine his performances at the Groupama Stadium before making their own offer, after Dortmund failed in their last-ditch attempt to attract him to Germany.
