Transfer Centre

Chelsea to move for Lyon duo Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki?

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 22 August 2023

Chelsea to move for Lyon duo Barcola, Cherki?

Chelsea are reportedly interested in a double move for Lyon pair Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki, after missing out on Michael Olise.

Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki have reportedly emerged as transfer targets for Chelsea.

The young Lyon duo had more prominent roles in the first team last season, often flanking top scorer Alexandre Lacazette.

After a 3-1 defeat at West Ham United on Sunday, the result may trigger further spending in what has already been a summer of astronomical activity in the transfer market for Chelsea.

football.london claims that Barcola and Cherki are the names that Chelsea have drawn up as alternatives to Michael Olise, who the club missed out on last week when he signed a new contract with Crystal Palace.

Cherki has more experience in the senior side, having made his debut in the 2019-20 season, but it was last season where he really had a breakout.

The 20-year-old played in 34 of Lyon's 38 Ligue 1 encounters, contributing to 10 goals, and he has already played 90 minutes in both of the side's league matches this season.

Barcola has also completed the full match in both of Lyon's games so far, despite damaging defeats to Strasbourg and Montpellier.

Bradley Barcola warms up for Lyon in September 2021 © Reuters

After making his debut two years ago, Barcola, who is also 20, had a fine season of his own, scoring five and setting up eight goals in 26 league games in 2022-23.

A move for the pair is expected to cost around £59.7m, but Barcola is believed to also be of interest to French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea have dipped into the French market frequently since the arrival of Todd Boehly as owner, poaching many of the league's most sought-after talents.

Defensive duo Benoit Badiashile and Malo Gusto were both signed in January, and they have been joined by Axel Disasi and Lesley Ugochukwu, with all four players demanding large transfer fees.

After Romeo Lavia's arrival, Chelsea's spending under Boehly is now north of £950m.

Chelsea have broken the British transfer record twice in 2023, with Enzo Fernandez's £106.8m transfer topped by Moises Caicedo's £115m move from Brighton & Hove Albion last week.

Moves for Barcola and Cherki would see that cross the £1bn mark in the space of just three transfer windows.