Chelsea 'hold talks' with wonderkid to replace Mason Mount as Blues given transfer hope

Chelsea have reportedly held talks over signing Lyon wonderkid Rayan Cherki this summer as a potential Mason Mount replacement. The Blues have been focusing on outgoings so far this summer, with Mount joined by the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek among others in leaving Stamford Bridge - but now Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to strengthen his squad.

The Blues will perhaps feel that they are lacking a creative spark in the middle of the pitch, with several midfielders sold already this summer as they perhaps look to replace them with Cherki. The 19-year-old Lyon star has shone in France having made his club debut at 16, the next off the long line of special talents produced by the club’s academy.

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In January, then-Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas publicly hit out Paris Saint-Germain for making what he deemed to be an “insulting” offer for Cherki. "I had a long time with Nasser [Al-Khelaifi], who called me on Saturday evening, to find out whether or not we were in negotiations for Rayan Cherki,” Aulas told French outlet RMC Sport.

Though Chelsea and Lyon are said to hold a good relationship, the Premier League side may end up regretting their decision to bring Gusto back to England in February.