Arne Slot carried out talks with Manchester City target Rayan Cherki

Reports suggest that Arne Slot flew to the south of France to conduct talks with Manchester City target Rayan Cherki.

Rayan Cherki has been one of the primary topics in the summer transfer window up to now, with reports indicating that there is extensive interest around Europe.

Fabrizio Romano reported that “Manchester City and OL are in club to club talks for Rayan Cherki” with a “deal expected to advance fast (in the) next weeks.”

Liverpool too are known to be in the market for an attacking midfield player, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz mooted as the prime target. With that said, it’s hard to rule out a possible pursuit of the Frenchman given news that Arne Slot has had contact with the player.

Highly respected journalist David Ornstein, of the Athletic, broke the news.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot flew to South of France last week for talks with Rayan Cherki – honouring meeting scheduled before Florian Wirtz chase accelerated.

- David Ornstein (The Athletic)

Ornstein later speciefied that Wirtz is the “top target” for Liverpool and Man City are still making the “push for Cherki.”

Talks with the Frenchman were supposedly arranged prior to the pursuit for Wirtz, but the Reds’ opportunistic transfer strategy means the addition of Cherki could be possible should Pep Guardiola’s side drop out of the race.

There is, however, no indication that the Citizens aim to step down in their aim to sign the versatile forward, having already dropped out of the race for Wirtz with a deal viewed as “too expensive,” as Romano reported.

It's set to be an active transfer window for the majority of Premier League sides, but Man City could be amongst the most occupied.

Reports suggest that the club are expected to wrap up deals for Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri, while Newcastle’s Tino Livramento remains their priority at right-back.

Will Man City acquire their desired attacking midfield candidate, or will Arne Slot’s prior talks with the player materialise?

Ellis Statham

• Liverpool F.C.
• Manchester City F.C.
• Premier League
• Ligue 1
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