Manchester City should look at a Lyon playmaker to add creativity to their midfield | OneFootball

As the 24/25 season has progressed the need for Manchester City to add creativity to their midfield has stood out. It seems a strange thing to say considering Pep Guardiola’s squad includes players like Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan. But names can be deceiving. De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are coming to the end of their storied careers. Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden both appear tired and have also been below their best this season.

Those factors have seen the Manchester City midfield lack the creativity we have been accustomed to seeing for the City engine room. It does appear to be an area that the world champions must address this summer. Florian Wirtz looks to be the number one choice of many to replace Kevin De Bruyne. RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons could be another player City target. But once you get past those two players who else should the current Premier League champions aim to sign to fill a void in their squad? Olympique Lyonnais attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki does look to be the player who could fill a void in the Manchester City squad.

Rayan Cherki could be a cheaper alternative to either Florian Wirtz or Xavi Simons to add creativity to the Manchester City midfield.

You only have to watch Rayan Cherki play to see his tremendous technical ability and overall talent. The French under-21 international is a superb player and that was on show during France’s impressive 5-3 win over England’s under-21 side last night. He scored one goal and added two assists in a standout performance for France. Cherki’s dribbling ability and eye for a pass was on full display last night. His performance last night was just a small encapsulation of his tremendous talent.

Looking at Rayan Cherki’s performances for Lyon this season you get a real glimpse of just how good he is. So far this season he has scored 8 goals and added 18 assists in 34 appearances in all competitions for Lyon this season. Those are superb numbers for a player who plays in a variety of roles for his team. This season Cherki has played on both wings and as an attacking midfielder for Lyon. So Cherki has the versatility to his play that Pep Guardiola craves.

In possession is where you see Rayan Cherki at his best. His dribbling ability is superb. He is a constant threat to Lyon’s opponents, and often, he forces teams to double-mark him when in possession. This skill plays into his brilliant vision and passing ability. If there is a gap in the opponent’s defence Cherki has the passing ability and vision to exploit it.

This trait is just one reason why he has picked up so many assists this season. Cherki isn’t a lightning-quick player, but he is strong in possession, which aids his play. He also has an eye for goal but you do feel that he could further improve this area of his game. All told, Rayan Cherki is one of the top young talents in European football, and you do sense that he could and should move to a big club in the near future. The skills of Cherki’s game do appear to be exactly what Manchester City lack in midfield.

Why a big club hasn’t signed Rayan Cherki isn’t immediately clear but Manchester City could benefit from adding him to Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Fabrizio Romano reported via X during the January transfer window that Cherki could leave Lyon for €22.5 million. That seems to be a bargain price for such a talented player. Yet he remains at Lyon. Why that is isn’t immediately clear.

Perhaps it’s because out of possession Rayan Cherki doesn’t offer a lot. He isn’t elite on the defensive side of the game. His pressing isn’t his strong suit but it is improving. Cherki looks to be a player who thrives in a system where his teammates can cover for him defensively. Perhaps that’s why teams have shied away from signing the talented young playmaker. That particular weakness in Cherki’s game wouldn’t suit the way Pep Guardiola prefers his team to play. It would have to improve drastically for Cherki to fit into Pep Guardiola’s squad.

But if Manchester City can’t sign Florian Wirtz or a player like that this summer they could do a lot worse than looking at Rayan Cherki. He is a tremendous player with his best years ahead of him. Although there are flaws in his game. Cherki playing under Pep Guardiola may be the move to bring the best out of the talented French youth international. It remains to be seen if this would be a move Manchester City would consider to add the creativity their midfield is crying out for.