Mauricio Pochettino has been denied the opportunity to take a closer look at Rayan Cherki this summer after Ukraine knocked France out of the Under-21 European Championship quarter-finals. The 19-year-old playmaker has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge recently, with the Blues in the market for a new creative midfielder following the departure of Mason Mount.
Cherki, who sees his contract at the Groupama Stadium expire in 2025, featured 34 times for Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1 last season, directly contributing towards 10 goals. Despite his tender age, the Frenchman has quickly become a mainstay in Laurent Blanc's starting lineup.
His incredible skillset and sparkling form in the academy saw him fast-tracked into the first-team, making his senior debut in the Champions League at the age of just 16. Cherki hasn't looked back since and now he's said to be on the Blues' radar.
