Borussia Dortmund reportedly target Olympique Lyonnais’ Rayan Cherki

As the transfer business continues to progress for Borussia Dortmund this summer, the club is being linked with an ever-increasing amount of names to replace a number of outgoing stalwarts in order to maintain a high level of quality in the squad. Among these changes in squad makeup, the departure of Marco Reus and the uncertain future of Gio Reyna will certainly be on the club’s radar, with the need to add some additional attacking and creative flair something for Die Schwarzgelben to heavily consider prior to the return of the Bundesliga.

Many attacking players have been mentioned so far, with Yankuba Minteh, Brajan Gruda and Johan Bakayoko all names the club has been linked with. Only one of these (Gruda) could plausibly play as an attacking midfielder however, which the loss of Reus and potential loss of Reyna would make necessary.

More recently, however, the name Rayan Cherki has come to the fore as a possible option for Dortmund to pursue. Lyons’s creative maestro is reportedly looking to leave the French side, with Dortmund among the clubs keen on his services. In addition to Dortmund, both West Ham and PSG are also said to be looking into a potential deal.

Having PSG and West Ham as competition for Cherki’s signing would pose a financial problem as both would likely be able to offer higher wages. The transfer fee on its own could plausibly be reasonable due to his contract expiring in 2025. The player's current valuation sits at 25 million euros, but with the contract winding down he may be available for a fee that gives Dortmund the opportunity to snap up the 20 year old talented Frenchman.

The report in question also indicates tensions between PSG and Cherki’s agent (Fayza Lamari, the mother of Kylian Mbappe) could steer the player away from signing for the French Champions. This could give Dortmund the edge over West Ham at least from a sporting perspective, with the club able to offer a better chance of competing for silverware than the English side.

As for Cherki himself, the player is coming off of a one goal and six assists season for a struggling Lyon side. His progressive passing (7.23 per 90) and successful take-ons (4.24 per 90) in particular suggest that the player would only improve his output in a more stable side, which Dortmund is clearly trying to construct for next season. He is also versatile and able to operate on either wing, which will be a plus for Dortmund based on who else leaves the club, in conjunction with the fact that Jadon Sancho is unlikely to return next season after the expiration of his loan.

Overall, a move for Cherki could be financially feasible and would offer the club the option to bring in a talented, creative player who could add some much-needed incisiveness to Dortmund’s play. He very much also fits the profile of player that Lars Ricken, Sven Mislintat and Sebastian Kehl have been looking for; a young player they can mold into a future star to help supplement the older, more experienced core they continue to build.