Liverpool are now set to face competition from PSG for a transfer target after the French giants decided to step up their pursuit.
The Reds could directly do business with the Parisians this summer amid rumours of Luis Enrique wanting to sign Luis Diaz as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe.
Now – however – PSG could instead take a transfer target away from Liverpool rather than sign the Colombia international…
PSG want Liverpool target Rayan Cherki
Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has now claimed that PSG are pushing to sign Lyon No.18 Rayan Cherki – and Enrique has already spoken to the Frenchman directly on the phone.
It comes after Sports Zone claimed that Liverpool had made contact with Lyon to sign the 20-year-old, who only has 12 months remaining on his contract.
Romano wrote on X: “Luis Enrique had direct call with Rayan Cherki as Paris Saint-Germain will insist to sign him after opening proposal rejected. PSG are aware of OL (Olympique Lyon) request to include sell-on clause in the deal, as key part of the negotiation.”
As a result of Cherki’s contract situation, French news outlet Jeunes Footeux believe he could be available for just €24m (£20m) this summer – which seems like excellent value for a player who has been described as one of the best dribblers in Europe.
Arne Slot could sign the next Steven Gerrard
If Liverpool can manage to fend off PSG and secure Cherki’s signature, Arne Slot could get his hands on another Steven Gerrard.
It was Rudi Garcia – who used to work with the France U23 international at Lyon – who compared him to the Liverpool legend due to his rapid development in senior football, telling Goal: “Gerard Houllier had this with Steven Gerrard, who he started at 17 years old.
“He played 15 games, then 25 and then started to play whole seasons. I had the same with Eden Hazard at Lille.”
Garcia actually handed Cherki his Ligue 1 debut in a 0-0 draw against Dijon back in October 2019, when the attacking midfielder was just 16 years, two months and two days old.
READ MORE: Player who left Liverpool in 2023 could now have contract terminated at new club
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as PSG step up their pursuit of the Lyon-born wonderkid…