Man City's new No.10? Pep Guardiola's side open Rayan Cherki transfer talks as Lyon star preferred over Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White

According to Fabrizio Romano, City have shifted their focus to Cherki as their primary attacking midfield target following the collapse of their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. Initial contact has already been made between City and Lyon as Pep Guardiola’s side look to enhance their creative options in midfield. Cherki, who is said to be enthusiastic about the opportunity to join a club competing regularly for major honours, is viewed internally as an ideal addition to City’s technical system.

While Cherki is now City’s preferred target, Gibbs-White remains on the club’s radar. However, Forest’s valuation of the 25-year-old - reportedly as high as £80 million (€95m/$108m) - has made City hesitant to push forward aggressively, as revealed by TeamTalk. Whereas Cherki’s contract includes a release clause of just £20m (€24m/$27m), a figure seen as excellent value in today’s inflated transfer market, especially for a player of his age and talent level.

With Lyon are reportedly open to letting Cherki leave due to his contract entering its final year, City are understood to be eager to finalise the deal before other suitors make a move. Given the relatively low release clause, the Manchester club view this as a strategic acquisition that would not only strengthen the squad but also leave room for further reinforcements elsewhere. The French star is considered a long-term investment who can help fill the creative void left by the departure of club legend Kevin De Bruyne.

As City prepare for another summer of transition, the pursuit of Cherki signals the club’s intent to refresh its midfield options with young, dynamic talent. With De Bruyne having exited and several players nearing the twilight of their careers, including Ilkay Gundogan, fresh faces like Cherki are needed to sustain the club’s dominance. Should the transfer be completed, it will be another example of the club’s shrewd recruitment strategy—blending elite scouting, fiscal discipline, and tactical foresight.