Chelsea are now willing to make a £20m offer for a “genius” attacker, but there could be competition for his signature from Manchester United, according to a report.
Blues set to bolster attacking options after Ipswich draw
The burden of scoring goals and creating chances has largely fallen on Cole Palmer this season, with the attacking midfielder amassing 21 goal contributions in all competitions, by far the highest number of any player in the squad.
It has been another impressive season for Palmer, but the overreliance on the England international means the Blues can struggle when he isn’t firing on all cylinders, having now lost four Premier League games in 2025, while also stumbling to a 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town.
As such, Enzo Maresca is keen to bolster his attacking options this summer, with a new winger of interest, and David Ornstein has revealed that Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens is set to be one of the targets, having been on the shortlist since January.
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The Blues have tested the waters with an opening bid for a midfielder.
The west Londoners have also entered the race for AC Milan star Rafael Leao, but the Portugal international will not come cheap, given that he has been valued at £150m by the Italian club in the past.
Consequently, it could make sense for Chelsea to pursue a cheaper alternative, and a report from Spain has now revealed they are willing to make a £20m bid for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, with the attacking midfielder seriously impressing in Ligue 1 this season.
The £20m price tag is no issue for the Blues, who have been monitoring Cherki’s performances closely this season, but there could be competition for his signature, with Man United also willing to make an offer.
There is a belief the 21-year-old would be a great addition to Maresca’s squad, and previous reports have revealed Lyon could be willing to cash-in this summer, given that they need to raise funds.
“Genius” Cherki could be fantastic signing for Chelsea
The Frenchman’s performances this season indicate a £20m deal could be an absolute steal, having amassed an extraordinary 11 goals and 18 assists in 38 matches for Lyon, which places him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders for assists per 90 over the past year.
|
Statistic |
Average per 90 |
|
Assists |
0.64 (99th percentile) |
|
Shot-creating actions |
6.94 (99th percentile) |
|
Progressive passes |
9.27 (99th percentile) |
Journalist Julien Laurens has been a long-term admirer of the Lyon star, having lauded him as a “genius” in the past, and his performances this season indicate he could be ready to make a move to one of Europe’s top clubs.
The signing of Cherki would go some way to providing support for Palmer, who largely carries the burden of creating chances at the moment, and the young Frenchman’s availability for an extremely low fee is an added bonus for Chelsea.
