Arsenal and Liverpool are expected to revive their interest in Rayan Cherki if Manchester City are forced to sell him, following the club's guilty verdict on 114 Premier League charges. The news comes as clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham make plans for the January transfer window.
Cherki and Haaland linked with Arsenal
Cherki joined Manchester City for around £30million in 2025 and is under contract until 2030. However, with the uncertainty surrounding City after being found guilty by the Premier League of all charges relating to serious breaches of their financial rules, there could be a fire-sale if an appeal fails. As per TEAMtalk, Arsenal and Liverpool would be keen on Cherki but could face competition from Paris Saint-Germain, while Real Madrid and Barcelona have monitored the 23-year-old.
Arsenal have also been linked with a sensational move for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland following the latest developments in City's financial case, while they could also target his team-mate Rayan Cherki.
How Man City charges may shake up transfer market
The saga over Manchester City's 115 charges has opened up a long stream of unanswered questions. Official confirmation that City have been found guilty of 114 of those charges has been provided by the Premier League. An appeal from City will be lodged, so until that is concluded, no final decisions on sanctions can be made, whether that be a fine, points deduction, or even expulsion from the Premier League.
There is the issue of compensation, too. Not just from those who finished second in title races to City but those who missed out on European football during the period of the alleged financial breaches. Uncertainty will not be in short supply in the City dressing room. If the more extreme sanctions are handed out, it would not be a surprise if players quickly considered their futures at the club.
Man City stars 'fear relegation' after bombshell verdict
Manchester City players are discussing the prospect of relegation after the club was found guilty of prolonged financial misconduct by the Premier League. An independent commission confirmed on Tuesday that the club had been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges levelled against them back in 2018, with the official legal decision citing sham sponsorship deals designed to covertly funnel money into the club.
It is alleged the club brought in over £900m from the deals, and went out of their way to throw investigators off the scent. Elsewhere, City are accused of misreporting their accounts, and their witnesses have been accused of giving false testimony. City are able to appeal the decision and must do so by this Friday. The club continues to maintain its innocence and claims to hold “irrefutable evidence” to prove it.
In the meantime, conversation has turned to the question of potential sanctions, with a severe points deduction bad enough to send them down or expulsion from the Premier League among the mooted measures. And, per reports from L’Equipe, players are beginning to worry about the prospect of being banished from the Premier League.
Man United target Mateta, Chelsea deal confirmed
Crystal Palace and France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is a target for Manchester United. According to TEAMtalk, United will look to strengthen their attacking options in 2027 and the 29-year-old is said to be on the shortlist. The Red Devils want greater competition for Benjamin Sesko up front and Mateta is seen as an ideal option.
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of former Tottenham starlet Leo Black. The versatile 20-year-old, who can play as a right-back and in midfield, called time on his 12-year association with Spurs in June. Black joined Chelsea on trial earlier this summer and made a bright start to life in west London. Two Premier League 2 goals were enough to see him nominated for the division’s September player of the month award alongside his new team-mates Reggie Watson and Chizaram Ezenwata.
Manchester United are considering another move for Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde but could miss out to rivals Liverpool for Brentford winger Kevin Schade. Liverpool have been linked with a shock move to bring Trent Alexander-Arnold back to Anfield, with Lamine Camara also reportedly on their radar following Julian Ward's appointment as sporting director. Tottenham are said to have expressed an interest in Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, potentially as a replacement for Micky van de Ven who is reportedly on the radar of United and Liverpool.
