The potential departure of Rayan Cherki caused a lot of talk during the month of January, so much so that some unexpected rumors emerged, including that of the offensive midfielder's departure from OL… to Saudi Arabia.
Rayan Cherki and Olympique Lyonnais have sealed a pact. In the event of an offer of 22 million euros this winter, the French junior international will be authorized to leave his training club, if the project presented to him tempts him. Very high caliber clubs in Europe are interested, starting with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. OL supporters have every reason to tremble even if ten days before the end of the transfer window, nothing has yet been done. Furthermore, knowing that Rayan Cherki has an exit voucher gives way to certain… unexpected rumors.
And as proof, the Saudi media Arriyadiyah reveals that the Saudi club Al-Hilal has very serious views on Rayan Cherki in order to make him the successor to Neymar, not registered by Jorge Jesus for the rest of the Saudi Pro League and for whom a departure to FC Santos is mentioned during this winter transfer window. The local site claims, Rayan Cherki is a top target for the Saudi club, just like Luis Guilherme (West Ham) and Kaio Cesar (Vitoria Guimaraes). However, the media specifies that this dream of the Saudi Arabian club is unlikely to come true.
-Al-Hilal dreams of Cherki to replace Neymar
Because even if Al-Hilal is ready to offer a golden bridge to Rayan Cherki, the latter has no reason to leave Europe so early in his career given the clubs which have expressed their interest in recruiting him. In addition, Cherki does not want to leave at all costs and if no big name makes an offer to sign him this winter, the French international hopefuls does not rule out staying until the end of the season. Next June, however, a decision will have to be made regarding his future while his contract runs until June 2026 with Olympique Lyonnais. Until then, we doubt that Saudi Arabia will still be a point of departure mentioned for the future of Rayan Cherki even if the transfer window has taught us that everything is possible, sometimes including certain totally unpredictable scenarios.
