'He's woken up' - What Rayan Cherki would offer Man City is obvious amid transfer claim

Manchester City have rowed back from a Florian Wirtz deal amid the spiralling costs of the transfer, and it could offer them a smooth sailing route into a transfer alternative.

The Wirtz deal, amid competition from Bayern Munich and Liverpool, would be £100m+. City have several recruitment priorities this summer and have shown in the past they are prepared to walk away from a deal they don't think makes financial sense.

It makes the links with Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki that bit more viable. He has enjoyed a superb season and is being touted as a possible Etihad arrival.

A precocious talent, the 21-year-old has seemingly married ability with work-rate and is reaping the rewards. He is flourishing at Lyon - having been linked with a move to Crystal Palace and Fulham last summer - and is now one of the most talked about young talents in European football.

He is one of the most creative players in Europe and, out of contract next year, could be set for a big move this summer. He has been linked with a clutch of top clubs - including Manchester United and Liverpool - and could be available for around £20million - a sizeable saving on Wirtz. There are also reports that the youngster has an attractive release clause in his current deal.

And while Cherki is a different type of player, perhaps more eye-catching but also more unpredictable and possibly more unreliable, there can be no doubting his talent. He predominantly plays wide on the right but can operate across the forward line and is two-footed. Indeed his long-term position is likely at number 10, and his coming of age season this term has elevated him to new heights.

He was outstanding for France Under-21s in a win over England in March and has 19 goal