“Thierry Henry Drops BOMBSHELL Warning About Newcastle’s £19m Target – You WON’T Believe What’s Coming This Summer!”
Newcastle United Maintain Strong Interest in France U21 Star Rayan Cherki Amid Summer Exit Plans from Lyon
At just 21, Rayan Cherki has caught the attention of several top clubs across Europe, with Newcastle United among the sides keeping close tabs on the Lyon star.
The Magpies have been monitoring the talented Frenchman for some time now.
Cherki has often drawn comparisons to former Newcastle favourite Hatem Ben Arfa — not only for his flair on the ball but also for his sometimes questionable attitude.
While there have been signs of progress in terms of his mindset, football legend Thierry Henry has issued a cautionary note regarding the challenges of managing the young attacker.
Speaking to L’Équipe, the former Arsenal and France star reflected on his experience coaching Cherki with the France U21s, explaining that it took persistent effort to keep him focused and disciplined.
“His issue was that he never managed to put together a consistent run of games to show his incredible talent,” said Henry.
“To do that, he had to contribute defensively throughout a full match — and this season, he finally did.
That allowed him to string games together. I really like this kid… But at times, you had to be firm, like a father is with his son.
“We’re talking about someone who should have been competing at the highest level a long time ago. He fell behind because it took him longer to grasp what was needed… But now, he gets it.”
Cherki currently has a €22.5 million (£19 million) release clause in his contract and has made it known he intends to move on this summer.
Given that relatively modest fee for a player of his potential, several clubs are expected to make a move — with Newcastle possibly among them.
Should the Magpies decide to trigger the clause, they’d be wise to consider Henry’s insights.
However, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is known for his player development skills and ability to instill discipline.
If Howe were to land Cherki this summer, there’s every reason to believe he could mould the young Frenchman into a world-class winger — providing the guidance and structure he needs to truly flourish.
