ARNE SLOT cut his holiday short to meet with Rayan Cherki, according to reports.
The Liverpool boss earned himself some downtime after a stunning debut season at Anfield.
GettyRayan Cherki is a target for Liverpool if they cannot finalise the Florian Wirtz transfer[/caption]
GettyArne Slot cut his holiday short to fly to France and meet with Cherki[/caption]
Slot, 46, led the Reds to the Premier League title – just the club’s second since its launch in 1992.
Liverpool have already sealed the signing of Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5million.
They are also closing in on a record-breaking mega £109m deal for Florian Wirtz.
But with the Wirtz deal not over the line just yet, the Premier League champions are keeping their other options open.
And that includes negotiations with Lyon star Cherki.
According to The Athletic, Slot – who previously partied in Ibiza before lifting the Prem trophy at the end of the season – left his holiday last week to fly to the south of France.
There, he sat down with Cherki for talks.
Wirtz, 22, is their No1 priority – but Cherki remains a possible alternative.
Like the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker, the Frenchman, 21, can play as an attacking midfielder or out wide.
The Athletic report, though, suggests Manchester City are also keen on Cherki, especially having conceded in the race for Wirtz, while rivals Manchester United have also expressed interest.
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Despite rumours, it is understood there is no £19m release clause in the Olympic silver medallist’s Lyon contract.
And therefore the Ligue 1 side are determined to haggle for a significant transfer fee if they are going to let their man leave.
That is despite the fact Cherki is entering the final year of his contract at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
AFPRayan Cherki is hoping to make his senior France debut[/caption]
