West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui at a press conference (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
West Ham United manager Tim Steidten is reportedly keeping tabs on Lyon winger Rayan Cherki ahead of the January transfer window.
according to The Athleticthe talented young French forward has been a player on the Hammers’ radar for some time now, and it looks like he’s someone the club could look at again this January.
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The Athletic note that Steidten has been keen to recruit to Ligue 1, having signed Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice in the summer, so it could be that the east Londoners will try something similar here
Cherki has shone for Lyon and looks like the type of player who could be a huge success in the Premier League, although he hasn’t always been the most consistent or reliable performer.
Could Rayan Cherki be West Ham’s new Dimitri Payet?
Should West Ham manage to sign a slightly maverick French striker like this, he will no doubt remind a few supporters of Dimitri Payet when he was at the London Stadium.
Payet was another superbly gifted footballer who didn’t quite make the most of his talent because he lacked the consistency needed to play for the bigger clubs.
Still, it was always a treat to watch and provided West Ham fans with some memorable moments and classic goals.
Cherki looks like a similar style of player, so it would be interesting to see if he could replicate that kind of success at West Ham and build a reputation as a cult hero and fan favourite.
Of course, one imagines that Lyon’s financial situation will have a number of clubs on the lookout for their top players, with Cherki likely someone who many top parties would like to sign if possible
