West Ham United have free rein to pursue Rayan Cherki transfer amid fresh Lyon development
West Ham United no longer have any excuses to hold off on a move for Rayan Cherki after Lyon were informed they are set to be relegated from Ligue 1.
Fabrizio Romano reported the developments via X [15 November] that the French side has been provisionally relegated to the second tier due to poor financial management, leaving them in turmoil.
The Hammers are known to be long-term admirers of Cherki and considered a move for the forward in the summer transfer window [Get French Football News], but instead opted to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United instead – a good piece of business.
However, Cherki will undoubtedly be considering his options in France, paving the way for Tim Steidten to provide Julen Lopetegui with the extra firepower he needs to launch a resurgence in the Premier League.
West Ham United should go all out to sign Rayan Cherki
According to RMC Sport [14 November], Lyon owner John Textor must inject £83million into the club’s coffers to ensure further penalties are not enforced on the side.
While the subsequent transfer ban could complicate matters, Lyon will have no choice but to sanction Cherki’s sale, as he is by far the most valuable asset at the club.
Julen Lopetegui is crying out for a creative focal point in his West Ham attack. The established trio of Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and even Jarrod Bowen have failed to deliver for the Spaniard thus far.
Bowen has delivered flashes of brilliance for the Hammers and essentially provided Lopetegui a lifeline with his match-winning penalty in the 2-1 win against Manchester United, but those moments have been very few and far between as part of the side’s struggles.
Cherki is one of the most sought-after prospects in Europe and would immediately walk into this underperforming West Ham side. Indeed, he could be the spark needed to kickstart a revival in the second half of the campaign.
It would be downright negligence for Steidten not to throw everything he has into this deal – he is 21, has extensive Ligue 1 and European experience and would be available for a fraction of his market value. It really is an absolute no-brainer.
In other West Ham news, here’s the Irons’ strongest XI of the season so far.
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