Chelsea eye Lyon's Rayan Cherki as potential Christian Pulisic replacement

Chelsea are reportedly preparing an initial bid for Rayan Cherki, the talented young player from Lyon, as they search for a Christian Pulisic replacement.

Pulisic is on the verge of completing a move to AC Milan, with a medical examination scheduled within the next 24 hours.

Chelsea are wasting no time in finding a successor for Pulisic, and Cherki is among their top targets. Elye Wahi, an impressive centre-forward from Montpellier, is also being considered by the London club.

Cherki, a product of Lyon's youth system, was born in Lyon and is currently valued at approximately €40million. He recently signed a contract extension until June 2025 after reaching 15 Ligue 1 starts, triggering an automatic one-year extension clause in April.

While Paris Saint-Germain had a bid for Cherki rejected by Lyon in January, Lyon are now open to selling him due to their financial struggles in adhering to France's financial fair play rules.

Cherki, an attacking midfielder who will celebrate his 20th birthday in August, is highly regarded as one of the most promising players of his generation.

Chelsea scouts closely monitored his performances during the recent UEFA Under-21 European Championship, where he showcased his skills for France, despite their disappointing exit in the quarterfinals against Ukraine.

Noteworthy for his ambidexterity, Cherki possesses equal proficiency with both feet and is adept at taking corners and free kicks.