Fulham ‘ready to break club record transfer fee’ for Lyon star… adding to relegation-threatened French giants’ woes

FULHAM are reportedly looking to smash their transfer record and raid Lyon for Rayan Cherki.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has risen through the French side’s academy to become one of their top talents.

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AFP

Rayan Cherki could be heading across the Channel[/caption]

He broke into the first-team in 2019 and he has already notched up over 100 appearances.

France U21 international Cherki’s displays have caught the eye of several clubs across Europe.

Chelsea were linked with a move for him last summer as a potential replacement for Christian Pulisic while Manchester United and Newcastle continue to monitor his progress.

However, now the Daily Mail states that it is their West London neighbours that are ready to pounce.

This new report claims that Fulham “have made an approach to Lyon” and that the Ligue 1 strugglers could decide to cash in in order to fund two new recruits of their own.

It says that Lyon could sell him for £30m – which would beat the £25m record outlay Fulham paid Nice for Jean Michael Seri in 2018.

Cherki was outstanding last term as he played a key role in helping his team recover from a nightmare start to eventually finish seventh in the top-flight.

But things have not got any better this season as they have had three managers already fail to transform their dismal form.

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Lyon are facing huge financial difficulties, and with the club currently sitting in the relegation zone, interim boss Pierre Sage could “sacrifice” Cherki for the £30m figure in order to buy Orel Mangala from Nottingham Forest and West Ham’s Said Benrahma.

Cherki has not scored from his 19 appearances in all competitions this season but has produced three assists.

But Fulham appear to have seen enough of his potential to bring him to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, the Cottagers are also keen on Armando Broja – but they are baulking at Chelsea’s £5m loan fee.

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