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By SPENCER MORGAN Published: 17: 47 AEST, 13 April 2025 | Updated: 17: 57 AEST, 13 April 2025 7 View comments Manchester United are reportedly in pole position in the race to sign a player who made an impact against them on Thursday night. The Red Devils visited Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final in midweek and were moments away from securing a huge 2-1 victory. However, the French side snatched a 2-2 draw as Rayan Cherki pounced on a mistake from Andre Onana in the fifth minute of injury time. Cherki, 21, is a player United have been keeping tabs since the age of 16, according The Mirror. The French winger almost joined the club's academy back when Nicky Butt was in charge but ultimately decided to sign his first professional deal with Lyon. The report claims United are now ready to make a move in the summer after seeing Cherki's growth in recent years. Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to sign Lyon star Rayan Cherki (left) Ruben Amorim is planning a big summer with the United squad in need of an overhaul Cherki equalised in the dying seconds of Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg A host of big Premier League clubs are said to be interested in the player, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Newcastle United. And it is Old Trafford that is currently his most likely destination with a fee in the region of £20million required to secure the Frenchman's services. Cherki was the subject of an approach from French giants PSG last summer but chose to remain at the Groupama Stadium to continue his development. He currently plays alongside former Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has labelled him the most gifted young player he's seen. 'He is the best natural talent I've ever seen, ' he told the BBC. 'An absolute master, a wizard with the ball. He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them - he is a genius. 'He is two-footed, has no fear, keeps going and going, can get past people with such ease, such finesse. He is now working for the team off the ball and has gone to another level this season. ' Cherki has made 178 appearances for Lyon, contributing 27 goals and 43 assists.
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