Liverpool ‘make £17m transfer bid’ for star amid rival’s financial woes

Liverpool are said to have submitted a €20million bid for Lyon striker Rayan Cherki in the wake of the Ligue 1 giants' bleak financial situation.

Earlier this week it emerged that the French club – owned by John Textor – have racked up almost £500million in debt and face relegation unless they can get their finances under control before the end of the season, according to a ruling from the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion. (DNCG).

That in turn has prompted apparently interested parties to raise their hands when it comes to Cherki, 21, who has impressed for Lyon this season.

TuttoJuve claim that Liverpool and Chelsea have even gone as far as making an official bid for the striker, who reportedly has suitors across Europe. Intriguingly, he was also linked with the Reds in the summer.

While Lyon would probably hate to lose Cherki mid-season, their perilous financial position means head coach Pierre Sage and his colleagues may have no choice. Juventus are also interested in the France Under-21 star.

Textor – the Lyon president whose Eagle Football Group also has a 45 percent stake in Crystal Palace – has since tried to play down rumors of a possible relegation.

During a recent press conference, he revealed that Lyon would have to find around €100 million to avert such a threat, before emphasizing that there was “no chance” of this happening.

He said: “We will not be relegated, there is no chance. I know our situation makes some skeptical. I prefer the Premier League system, where clubs are punished differently. We have resources that extend far beyond the club. Even if we fail all our €700 million global initiatives, our owners will not let the group sink.

“There is no chance of relegation.”

News of Liverpool's renewed interest in Cherki comes as the summer signing of Federico Chiesa is linked with a return to Serie A. Reports in Italy suggest Inter Milan will sign the former Juventus star on a six-month loan deal wants to sign a contract, with Chiesa finding a permanent job. It's been hard to come by a time since he moved to Anfield.