'We'll see': £30m star will not rule out Crystal Palace or Newcastle move after Europa League masterclass

12/13/2024 01:15 PM

With his contract situation a cause for concern, with Premier League trio Newcastle United, Chelsea and Crystal Palace watching closely, this was not what the fans wanted to hear from their £30 million man.

While he might have put pen to paper back in September, a 12-month extension to his existing contract hardly had the effect of removing Rayan Cherki’s name from the gossip columns.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

And with the Lyon whizzkid finally showing signs of fulfilling the potential that had some drawing comparisons with a Lille-era Eden Hazard, it’s no wonder interest is on the rise across the Channel.

TBR can confirm that Newcastle and Chelsea scouted Rayan Cherki, alongside free-scoring striker Jonathan David, as Lyon took on Lille at the start of November. Crystal Palace are big fans of the France Under 21 international, too.

And, with John Textor a majority shareholder at both Palace and Lyon, The Eagles could use their contacts at the Groupama Stadium in an attempt to lure Cherki away.

Crystal Palace and Newcastle target Rayan Cherki won’t rule out transfer

Crystal Palace also like winger Ernest Nuamah – who came within touching distance of joining Fulham in August – and young right-back Sael Kumbedi.

Cherki’s response when asked about a potential £30 million departure, meanwhile, will have done little to quell the speculation.

“We’ll see at the end of the season if I’m still here or not,” the 21-year-old said rather bluntly, speaking to Canal Plus after putting on a masterclass in Lyon’s 3-2 Europa League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.

L’Equipe suggest that Lyon’s financial issues could bring about a departure as early as January.

Like Nuamah, Cherki was on Fulham’s radar over the summer. Had Lyon cashed in then, Les Gones would have earned around £12 million. That is according to Textor himself, indicating that a combination of outstanding form and a contract extension means Lyon will now be looking for twice as much.

The Sun believe that Cherki is now valued at £30 million.

"[By failing to sell Cherki in the summer] we lost 15 million euros," Textor told L'Equipe last month. "But he has a greater market value [after extending his contract].

"He should stay in January but it will come down to his choice, as always in football."

Ernest Nuamah shows why Crystal Palace want him

Cherki scored once and provided two assists in that Frankfurt thriller. He could have had a hat-trick of assists had Corentin Tolisso not screwed his effort wide early on following a marvellous Cherki backheel on the edge of the penalty area.

Nuamah, meanwhile, made the most of a relatively rare start as he finally opened his account for 2024/25 at the 14th attempt.

Cutting inside from the right, after Cherki had rolled the ball into his path, he whipped a stunning shot into the far corner.

“I needed this goal,” Nuamah admits. “I worked very hard in training. At the start of the season, I wasn’t in the squad [and] I came back.

“It’s my first goal of the season and I’m very proud. I hope the others will follow quickly.”