West Ham interested in £20m player compared to Eden Hazard, he wants to leave his club - journalist

06/24/2024 09:15 AM

West Ham United 'highly appreciate' the profile of an attacking midfielder who is determined to leave his club this summer. 

On Julen Lopetegui's list of essential signings, the addition of a forward-thinking midfielder hasn’t often been mentioned.

If reports are to be believed, Tim Steidten is currently chasing a centre-back, a right-back and a new striker.

West Ham have recently registered their interest in Lille's Jonathan David, who could perhaps alleviate some of pressure on 34-year-old Michail Antonio.

And whilst scouring Ligue 1 for talent, it seems that Steidten may have identified another gem for the Hammers to target.

West Ham signed a host of players from French football in the summer of 2022, adding all of Lucas Paqueta, Nayef Aguerd, Thilo Kehrer and Alphonse Areola.

And after the success of identifying Paqueta's talent at Lyon, West Ham are now interested in his former teammate, Rayan Cherki.

West Ham ‘highly appreciate’ talented Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki

Now 20-years-old, Cherki has long been touted as one of the most exciting talents in European football.

Cherki's old boss Rudi Garcia confessed that the Frenchman reminded him of Eden Hazard in the past, and comparisons to Steven Gerrard have even been mentioned too.

Journalist Santi Aouna, who is something of an expert in all things Ligue 1, has now detailed West Ham's interest in Cherki.

Cherki reportedly wants to leave Lyon this summer, and there's a line of clubs competing for his signature.

Along with West Ham and Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain are thought to be leading the way right now, as Aouna explains.

He shared: "Luis Enrique and Luis Campos [are] still pushing for Rayan Cherki.

"PSG is not alone in the matter. Dortmund and West Ham highly appreciate his profile. The Germans were close to recruiting Cherki two years ago.

"For the moment, the player prefers PSG. Until now, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is reluctant to see him arrive in Paris."

So whilst it seems as if Cherki could perhaps take some convincing to ignore PSG's advances in favour of east London, it's certainly not impossible.

And from a West Ham fan point of view, it's certainly encouraging to see the club knocking shoulders with some of Europe's most elite clubs. 

Cherki could be an excellent addition to Lopetegui's new era, and is perhaps one to watch.

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