Rayan Cherki's PSG dream fades

From the start of the 2024 summer transfer window, Rayan Cherki's name has been linked to PSG, following interest from the previous winter. The 21-year-old French talent reportedly agreed to join the Parisian club, but the deal has dragged on to the point where it may never happen.

Cherki, in the final year of his contract with Olympique Lyonnais (OL), has been the subject of departure rumors for months. The idea of him joining Paris Saint-Germain has been a recurring theme in transfer talks.

Early in the summer window, an agreement was reportedly reached between Cherki and PSG, with Lyon asking for just €15 million. However, complications arose, including interest from Borussia Dortmund and tense relations between PSG's Nasser Al-Khelaifi and OL’s John Textor.

After competing in the Olympics and earning a silver medal, Cherki returned to training with a shock: he was placed in Lyon's loft, separated from the first team.

Rayan Cherki's PSG dream fades

Lyon's management, according to L’Equipe, has given Cherki three options: find a club willing to meet the €15 million asking price, like PSG and Fulham had considered, extend his contract with OL, or sit out the rest without playing. Cherki has reportedly rejected Fulham’s offer, leaving the possibility of extending his stay at Lyon as the most likely outcome.

For PSG, recent reports from Le Parisien confirm that Cherki will not be playing under Luis Enrique. This follows a trend highlighted by L’Equipe's Loic Tanzi, who noted that PSG is unlikely to add any new offensive players before the transfer window closes. Given the situation, Cherki is now seriously considering extending his contract with OL: "The 21-year-old is seriously considering this option to return to playing, with nearly the same terms and a slight salary increase," wrote Hugo Guillemet and Loic Tanzi in L’Equipe.