Fulham look to sign Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki… with the clubs discussing a deal worth £30m to bring the highly-rated French youth international to Craven Cottage ahead of deadline day

Fulham have made an approach to Lyon over their highly-rated attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.

At just 20-years-old Cherki has already made more than 100 senior appearances in all competitions since graduating from the Ligue 1 side’s youth academy in 2019.

Cherki played an integral role last season as Lyon recovered from a dismal spell before the winter break for the 2022 World Cup to eventually finish seventh in the French top flight. 

The France youth international has long courted attention from Premier League teams and was linked with a move to Chelsea last summer as a potential replacement for Christian Pulisic at Stamford Bridge.

Despite Cherki’s contributions Lyon have struggled this season, with the former giants of French football floundering in the relegation zone having already had three separate managers. 

The Lyon academy graduate has 11 goals in 19 appearances for France under 21s

A deal could be completed for £30m as Lyon look to complete a Premier League double swoop

Amid the club’s ongoing troubles on the pitch Cherki could be sacrificed for £30m while interim boss Pierre Sage pushes to sign Orel Mangala from Nottingham Forest and Said Benrahma from West Ham.

Lyon agreed fees with both clubs on Wednesday but Benrahma wanted more time to consider the move as he discussed personal terms while Mangala, who was in a hotel in Germany, was waiting for a contract issue with Forest to be resolved first.

Benrahma has spent four years in East London after initially arriving at the club on loan from Brentford  in October 2020.

The Algerian international netted in the Hammers’ Europa Conference League final win over Fiorentina back in July but has been limited to just five Premier League starts at the London Stadium this season.