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Rayan Cherki is set to spark a summer transfer battle with Liverpool emerging as a credible destination for his signature after the 21-year-old confirmed his intention to leave the French club.

The talented Frenchman has confirmed his departure from Olympique Lyonnais after their final Ligue 1 match of the 2024-25 season.

Following Lyon’s 2-0 victory over Angers on Saturday, which secured a Conference League qualifying spot for the club, Cherki addressed his future directly:

“It was my last [game], I think, with Lyon, but I’m cautious because I know what I went through last summer,” the playmaker stated after recording his 20th assist of the season.

The emotional farewell at the Groupama Stadium marked the end of his chapter with the club where he has made 182 appearances despite being just 21 years old.

Cherki’s 2024-25 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular, with the versatile attacker contributing 12 goals and 19 assists across all competitions.

What makes Cherki’s transfer situation particularly intriguing is the nature of his exit clause.

Rather than a standard release clause, the player has what sources describe as a “gentleman’s agreement” with Lyon, valued at approximately £25 million.

This arrangement was established during Cherki’s contract extension last September.

The complexity arises from the fact that formal release clauses are not legally recognized in French football.

 Fabrizio Romano explained the situation this week, saying: “In January, Dortmund were convinced to trigger the release clause of Cherki, but the problem was that the clause was not considered valid by Lyon.”

“In France, release clauses are not allowed, so there was some legal stuff there that complicated things in terms of price tag”.

Romano further advised that “the best solution to get Cherki is to try and be collaborative with Lyon, discuss with the president and find the solution”.

Interest in Cherki is fierce?

Liverpool have been monitoring the Frenchman for some time and are among the clubs to have made enquiries, alongside Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

Borussia Dortmund, long-term admirers, are also in the mix and have re-opened talks with Lyon after a failed attempt to sign him in January.

And according to L’Equipe, OL are now asking for at least €40m for Cherki as opposed to the touted €22.5 million.

Textor’s stance was clear in January: the club would not let Cherki leave for what they saw as a cut-price fee, regardless of any informal understanding.

And it seems like the Ligue 1 will make negotiations difficult once again this summer.

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