Manchester City prepare opening bid for Rayan Cherki

The French forward, who has just turned 21, is seen as an exciting prospect for the future, with his contract at Lyon set to expire in 2026. City hope to take advantage of Lyon's willingness to cash in on the talented midfielder.

In addition to their move for Cherki, City are accelerating talks with AC Milan to finalise a deal for Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutch midfielder has already agreed personal terms with the English club, but negotiations continue over his £76 million valuation. The Sky Blues are optimistic that a breakthrough can be reached in the coming days.

Cherki's impressive form in Ligue 1 last season, where he contributed eight goals and 11 assists, has not gone unnoticed by City's recruitment team. His ability to play across multiple attacking roles and his creative flair make him an attractive addition to Pep Guardiola's evolving squad, particularly as key figures like Ilkay Gundogan near the twilight of their careers.

With negotiations for both Cherki and Reijnders gathering pace, the club's ambition to refresh their midfield and maintain their dominance in English football is becoming increasingly clear.