Chelsea have not abandoned their interest in Manchester City attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.
The London club have admired the France international, who is of Algerian descent, for some time and previously explored the possibility of signing him before his move to the Skyblues.
Chelsea reportedly considered offering a deal involving Andrey Santos to Olympique Lyonnais. Those discussions failed to produce an agreement, allowing Manchester City to complete the signing of the creative midfielder.
The situation could change if Manchester City face sanctions. In that event, Chelsea may revisit their interest in Cherki and examine whether they can bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea face competition for Cherki
Chelsea would not be alone in monitoring the 23-year-old. Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also reported to be following developments regarding the player.
Cherki’s creativity, technical ability and skill in finding space between the lines have kept him highly regarded among Europe’s leading clubs.
Any move from Chelsea would depend heavily on Manchester City’s circumstances. No concrete approach has been announced at this stage, and Cherki remains under contract with the Manchester club until 30 June 2030.
The transfer situation could become more significant if the sanctions being discussed are confirmed. Cherki’s market value is estimated at 90m euros.
Manchester City are due to face Liverpool in their next Premier League fixture, which will be their sixth league match. The reported betting prices for the game are 2.50 for a Manchester City victory, 3.85 for a draw and 2.63 for a Liverpool win.