Liverpool get Rayan Cherki transfer green light as Lyon deal confirmed

The latest Liverpool transfer news as uncertainty looms over Ryan Cherki’s Lyon future and Anfield transfer rumors intensify

Liverpool may have been handed the perfect opportunity to sign Lyon forward Rayan Cherki during the January transfer window. Arne Slott’s side have been heavily linked with a move to Cherki in recent months, and it appears Lyon could be looking to find a similar replacement despite their current transfer embargo.

The Reds have moved quietly towards the transfer window and have yet to reveal their full intentions to stick or twist with the current squad Arne Slot has at his disposal. From what has been seen in recent weeks, injury and suspension could easily balance the squad amid rising Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup hopes.

In the summer, the stance on arrivals was ‘opportunistic’ scenarios that would be acted upon. Cherki very much meets these criteria as Lyon need to raise revenue quickly or face relegation to Ligue 2 at the end of the campaign.

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“We’ll see at the end of the season if I’m still here or not,” admitted the reported ‘goal’ recently. One of the other penalties handed down to the French club over their extensive debt of €508m (£421.1m) last month was a transfer ban, however according to ESPN they must complete a signature in January.

“Everything is ready for me to go to Lyon. I will leave on January 5. I asked (about the financial difficulties) and they told me they would solve it,” Botafogo playmaker Thiago Almada told them recently .

The 23-year-old Argentine, who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger, joined Brazilian side Botafogo in July for €20m (£16.5m). They share American ownership with Lyon and the plan was always for him to move between the clubs after six months.

It remains to be seen how the French club will get around the ban imposed by French football watchdog Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG), but they at least have intentions of registering and fielding their new playmaker for the second half of the campaign.

With the potential requirement to sell star players next month, Cherki – who plays the same position as Almada – could find himself one of their best cash-raising options, and Liverpool could therefore commit if they were to strengthen their reported interest. Manager Pierre Sage didn’t sound so sure when asked if the 21-year-old would stay beyond the January window, and the Reds have reportedly been told that a £25m bid would be too much for him.