More exciting than Frimpong: Liverpool make enquiry for "world-class" star
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Over the last couple of days, Liverpool have appeared to make huge progress in the transfer window, looking to land a replacement for the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Englishman is set to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, with Jeremie Frimpong emerging as Arne Slot’s number one target to replace him.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Reds are in talks to land the Dutch international, who currently has a £29.5m release clause in his deal with Bayer Leverkusen.
It’s also been reported that he’s keen on a switch to Anfield in the coming months, with the hierarchy working tirelessly to provide the manager with the tools he needs to build on his Premier League triumph.
However, he’s not the only player on their radar, with groundwork being laid for another signing who could prove to be a more exciting addition than the right-back.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions
Even though the summer transfer window is yet to open, Liverpool have already wasted no time in making moves for multiple players in multiple areas of the pitch.
The likes of Murillo, Rodrygo and Tomas Araujo have all appeared on their list in recent weeks, as Slot looks to provide added depth to his squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
However, the aforementioned trio aren’t the only ones on their radar, with Lyon star Rayan Cherki attracting huge interest from the Reds, according to French outlet Le Parisien.
Their report claims that Slot’s men have made an enquiry to land the 21-year-old who’s registered a staggering 12 goals and 19 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.
It also states that he could be available this summer for as little as £19m, with the Ligue 1 outfit prepared to let him depart during the off-season due to their financial issues.
Why Cherki would be a more exciting signing than Frimpong
There’s no denying that Liverpool’s current squad is full of talent across various areas, playing a massive role in their title success during Slot’s first campaign at the helm.
The Dutchman has only made one first-team addition this season in the form of Federico Chiesa, with the Italian only featuring for a total of 41 league minutes, highlighting the impressive squad he took over upon taking the reins.
However, if they are to sustain such levels of success, additions will be needed this summer, with Frimpong and Cherki just the two latest names thrown into the mix.
Whilst the Leverkusen star would fill a huge void given Trent’s pending departure, a move for the French youngster would inject added life and creativity into an already potent front line.
The attacker, who’s been labelled “world-class” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, has excelled this season, enjoying the best year of his professional career – with his figures backing up his success.
His tally of 18 combined goals and assists in Ligue 1 to date is the fifth-highest of a player who doesn’t play for PSG, showcasing how impressive he’s been for Lyon.
His underlying stats are just as impressive, averaging 3.2 chances created per 90, along with 2.1 successful dribbles, with his subsequent tallies allowing the likes of Mohamed Salah to build on their own impressive season in 2024/25.
|
Most combined goals & assists in Ligue 1 (2024/25) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
Total |
|
Ousmane Dembélé |
28 |
21 |
6 |
27 |
|
Bradley Barcola |
33 |
14 |
10 |
24 |
|
Mason Greenwood |
33 |
19 |
4 |
23 |
|
Jonathan David |
31 |
16 |
5 |
21 |
|
Arnaud Kalimunedo |
32 |
17 |
3 |
20 |
|
Gaetan Perrin |
33 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
|
Rayan Cherki |
29 |
8 |
10 |
18 |
|
Stats via FotMob |
||||
He’s also averaged 6.4 touches in the opposition box per game, as well as 1.9 shots per 90 – having the ability to find the back of the net on his own should he need to.
Cherki’s flair and creativity make him a joy to watch, with his reported £19m fee a bargain for a 21-year-old who could explode into life in the Premier League over the next few years.
Despite the interest from elsewhere, the Reds should be working tirelessly this summer to complete a deal for Cherki, with the youngster having the tools to thrive in Slot’s system and bolster their chances of retaining their title next year.
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