are readying an opening bid for Lyon attacker Rayan Cherki as they look to bring in a new attacker to replace the departing Christian Pulisic, according to reports.
The west London club have already had a busy summer with 10 first-team players leaving – and around £200million brought in from those sales – though wants to trim his squad even further.
, , Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi are all expected to be offloaded in the coming days and weeks.
Pulisic is closest to the exit door, however, with AC Milan having made after the USA star made it clear he did not want to join Lyon, who also tabled an offer.
Although Chelsea have added Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku to their ranks this summer, the huge summer exodus has left the side a little light on options both in midfield and attack.
They are already looking to bring in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo to reinforce their midfield and now claim they have identified Cherki as the man to bolster their attacking options.
The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the most promising young players in France, netting four times and laying on six assists in Ligue 1 last year after enjoying a particularly productive end to the season.
He continued that form in the Under-21 European Championship with some eye-catching displays despite France’s disappointing campaign and Chelsea’s scouts were impressed with what they saw.
Cherki is valued at around €40million (£34m) by Lyon and they are prepared to cash in, with the club currently struggling to adhere to France’s financial fair play rules.
The Ligue 1 side will likely to have to sell several players in order to fund any new additions, with defender Castello Lukeba also linked with a move to RB Leipzig.
Chelsea and Lyon have a good relationship dating back to the deal they struck for Malo Gusto in January, while they have also been in contact in recent days over Pulisic – though the American has decided to move to Milan.
The Blues are said to be particularly attracted to Cherki’s versatility, with the teenager capable of playing on either wing, as a No.10, a second striker and even as a false nine.
In addition to looking at the Lyon starlet, Chelsea are also keeping tabs on Montpellier forward Elye Wahi – who is a more conventional striker – and both are seen as fitting the profile of young, promising player the club’s recruitment team want to sign.
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