Rayan Cherki, a standout for Lyon, is rumoured to have terminated his chase by Chelsea due to worries over his temperament. Nathan Gissing claims that the Blues are extremely concerned about the young player’s attitude as Mauricio Pochettino seeks to establish a positive culture and vibe at Stamford Bridge following the conclusion of the last campaign.
During his 34 appearances for Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1 last season, Cherki, whose contract at the Groupama Stadium expires in 2025, directly assisted 10 goals. Gissing stated to The Byline, “I’m told Chelsea aren’t the biggest fans of his [Cherki] attitude.
The 19-year-old wonderkid was seen as a potential replacement for Mason Mount – who joined Manchester United earlier this summer in a £60million deal. Pochettino is looking to create a young, talented team that pulls together to achieve success.
football.london reported earlier this summer that the Blues have recently stepped up their pursuit of Cherki following positive conversations with his entourage over a possible deal. It’s believed that the club sent scouts to watch the Frenchman on several occasions last term, where they also monitored the progress of Malo Gusto, who was signed in January.
football.london reported earlier this month that Chelsea had contacted Rayan Cherki’s representatives in order to gauge how they would feel about a transfer. It is now understood that the the feedback they received from Cherki’s camp was very positive.
However, Gissing’s comments suggest that after some more research from the club into the young Frenchman, they are now ready to pull the plug on a move and focus on alternative targets. Pochettino cannot risk signing players that could see a repeat of last season with some members of the squad causing a divide at the club.
Cherki may be a hugely talented footballer, but Chelsea need team players as Pochettino heads into his first season in charge off the back of one of the Blues’ worst ever Premier League campaigns. The west Londoners may now turn their attention to Mohammed Kudus and Michael Olise.
Chelsea appear to have the edge over Arsenal in a deal Kudus – having now sounded a possible move for the Ghana international, football.london understands. CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has reported that the west Londoners are ‘close’ to agreeing personal terms with the 22-year-old as they look to beat Arsenal to his signature.
