Fulham to make sensational £30m deadline day signing of Ligue 1 wonderkid

Fulham could make waves on January transfer deadline day, according to the Daily Mail - the Cottagers are reportedly lining up a massive £30 million bid for Lyon wonderkid Rayan Cherki before the window slams shut at 11pm GMT.

Cherki has been at Lyon since 2010, when he was just seven years of age. Since he made his debut for Les Gones back in 2019, he has made 102 for the club, scoring five goals in Ligue 1 along the way. Additionally, he was - and still is - a constant fixture of France's youth teams. Currently, he features for their U21 outfit, scoring an impressive 11 goals in 19 international games.

Cherki is also thought to be a target for David Moyes' West Ham United, but it seems the Hammers are not lining up a bid for him right now. Previously, he has also been linked with moves to Manchester United, Newcastle United and Chelsea - likewise, though, they all seem to have turned their attention elsewhere for now.

What would Rayan Cherki bring to Fulham?

A supremely gifted young attacking midfielder, Cherki's ball control and dribbling is second to none. Not only can he carry the ball forward in a progressive manner, he is also a very intelligent passer for a player of his age.

He hasn't had the most fruitful of campaigns in 2023/24 - so far, he has failed to score a goal in Ligue 1 over the course of 19 league appearances. He has, however, notched up a trio of assists in France's top division.

Of course, £30 million is a lot of money to pay for a talent who is untested in the Premier League. Nevertheless, if Cherki reaches his true potential at Craven Cottage, the deal (if completed) could be viewed as a massive bargain in retrospect.