Thierry Henry, who included Rayan Cherki in his France squad for the 2024 Olympics, has previously said he has "never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him."

Lyon's captain Alexandre Lacazette described Cherki as "special".

The former Arsenal striker added: "This season, he has managed to raise his level. I would put [Mesut] Ozil in a different category but, with time, Rayan can get close to him."

Speaking to BBC Sport in April about him, Lyon's former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said: "He is the best natural talent I've ever seen. 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."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have wasted no time in strengthening after enduring their worst campaign since Pep Guardiola took charge nine years ago.

A £46.3m deal has been agreed with AC Milan for Tijjani Reijnders, capable of playing anywhere in midfield. Rayan Cherki meanwhile would likely play in an advanced role just behind Erling Haaland.

Guardiola traditionally prefers his midfielders to keep the ball and be patient rather than play in a direct, transitional style, but now he is in need of a Kevin de Bruyne replacement.

Cherki could also be deployed on the right wing, with wide players Jeremy Doku and Savinho struggling for consistency last season and Jack Grealish open to leaving the club.

Rayan Cherki is coming off the best season of his career.

In Ligue 1 this term the midfielder scored eight goals, provided 11 assists, 22 big chances - the most in the league - 13 through-balls and 48 successful dribbles.

A return of 12 goals in all competitions is by far the best of his short career, but it is his work and understanding of the game off the ball that has arguably improved the most this.

He scored in both legs of Lyon's dramatic Uefa Europa League quarter-final defeat to Manchester United.

Cherki's two-footedness was on full display last season - of the 44 shots he took with his feet in Ligue 1 last season, 22 came with the left and 22 with the right.

Image source, Getty Images

If you're just joining us, here's what we've already taken a look at this morning...

• What are the deals done so far in this window?
• What might happen before tomorrow night's transfer deadline?
• Will Bellingham play for England at U21 Euros?
• Bellingham set for Dortmund medical today - reports
• Jobe Bellingham wants 'own identity'

In around an hour we'll be turning our focus to England ahead of tomorrow's friendly against Senegal, and you'll also be able to hear from Thomas Tuchel live from 12pm.

For now, lets continue looking at Man City target Rayan Cherki...

Cherki is the latest incredible talent to come off the Lyon production line.

Cherki graduated to the Lyon first team after joining the club's academy at the age of seven, and made his Champions League debut at 16 in November 2019.

Two months later at 16 years and 140 days, he became the youngest goalscorer in the Ligue 1 side's history in a French Cup tie back in January 2020.

Like his footballing idol Cristiano Ronaldo, the young Frenchman looks destined for greatness.

Image source, Getty Images

Rayan Cherki enjoyed an explosive France debut last week, and now the Lyon midfielder could be heading to the Premier League.

The 21-year-old has been linked with Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid in the past, but now it's Manchester City that look set to sign him.

The player will soon enter the final year of his contract and is said to be keen on joining Pep Guardiola's side.

However, Lyon have reportedly rejected City's opening offer of 30m euros (£25.3m)., external

This is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport chief football news reporter

Rayan Ait-Nouri's transfer from Wolves to Manchester City should be confirmed later today.

The big question is whether Lyon and France midfielder Rayan Cherki joins him.

City are keen on Cherki and clearly can do the deal but they will have to move quickly and sources inside the club yesterday were calling reports of the transfer being agreed as 'premature'.

In a sense, tomorrow's deadline is a bit misleading. That is just to be involved in the start of the Club World Cup. There is an opportunity to add to squads in mid-tournament from 27 June to 3 July that would make players available for the knockout rounds.

City could also ignore the Club World Cup altogether and sign Cherki at a later date.

That would appear a bit pointless given the massive financial incentives offered by FIFA for European clubs who go deep into the tournament.

I expect City will push hard to get the transfer concluded.

Sunderland

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini, speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle: "The Bundesliga is somewhere between the Championship and the Premier League.

"It's a way of stepping up, maybe a little bit of less pressure. There are some financial advantages of going abroad as well.

"It was a bit of a surprise when he came to Sunderland. Not because we weren't a big enough club, but because he was such a hot talent.

"Birmingham were in a similar position to us in the league, it wasn't a massive step up at that stage.

"He's been very good for us. Do I think he's as good as his brother? Not from what I've seen so far, but there is nothing wrong with that.

"If he's 80% as good as his brother, he will still be a very good footballer. So in some respects, let it be, let it progress as he wants."

Reports suggest that Jobe Bellingham's proposed move from Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund will go ahead in time for the Club World Cup deadline.

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano, external is reporting that the 19-year-old England Under-21s midfielder is set for a medical today and will then sign a five-year deal.

Image source, Getty Images

• Liverpool are reportedly set to make a final offer worth £118m for Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz. (Daily Mail), external
• Arsenal are yet to agree a deal with RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko, but the next round of talks have been scheduled. (Sky Germany), external
• Martin Zubimendi's move to Arsenal was almost a done deal, but Real Madrid are not giving up on the Spanish midfielder. (AS), external

Michael Emons
BBC Sport reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Though Jobe Bellingham is following in his older brother Jude's footsteps by joining Dortmund, he wears his first name on the back of his shirt as he aims to create his own headlines.

"He doesn't want to live off the back of his brother's name; he wants to be the footballer he is and show people what he can do. He's trying to create his own identity," said former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray in 2023.

While Jude operates largely as a number 10 - behind the main striker - for club and country, Jobe can play as a defensive or box-to-box midfielder.

• Read Michael's full feature on Jobe Bellingham here.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is thought Jobe Bellingham is keen to follow in his older brother Jude's footsteps.

Jude, 21, who is two years Jobe's senior, also came through Birmingham City's academy before moving to Dortmund in 2020 and then Real Madrid in 2023.

Bellingham is already mirroring his brother's career with the move to Dortmund and he was also named the Championship's Young Player of the Year in May, five years after Jude won the same award.

Another connection between brothers may have helped facilitate Bellingham's move to Dortmund.

The German club's UK scout is Daniel Dodds, brother of Wycombe Wanderers boss Mike, who worked with the Bellinghams in the Birmingham academy.

Mike Dodds was also part of the coaching staff at Sunderland when Jobe Bellingham made the move from St Andrew's to the Stadium of Light.

"I think he can go to the very top," he told the Northern Echo in 2023., external

"Both brothers have a very similar mindset in terms of their relentlessness in their pursuit of where they want to get to."

If Jobe Bellingham's move to Borussia Dortmund is completed by 10 June then he could end up playing against older brother Jude for the first time in a competitive match.

Dortmund have been drawn in Group F of the Club World Cup, along with Fluminense of Brazil, Ulsan HD of South Korea and South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.

Real Madrid are in Group H, with Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Pachuca of Mexico and Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg.

If both Dortmund and Real win their respective groups and last-16 ties, they would meet in the quarter-finals on 5 July.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Jobe Bellingham has been named in the England squad for the upcoming European Under 21 Championship, to be held in Slovakia starting on 11 June.

But England boss Lee Carsley has said he will release players so they can compete in the Club World Cup.

Liam Delap was left out of the U21s squad after completing his move to Chelsea who, like Borussia Dortmund, are in the Fifa tournament.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport chief football news reporter

We have tended to focus on the Chelsea and Manchester City and their transfer business ahead of the Club World Cup but Borussia Dortmund are also working to get their business done.

A fee for Jobe Bellingham is now in place for him to follow brother Jude to the German club, while Dortmund are also in negotiations with Chelsea over Jamie Gittens.

BVB have already rejected one offer but expect Chelsea to come back with an improved deal.

Dortmund's fortunes were transformed by an end of season run of seven wins in their last eight games that sealed a place in next season's Champions League.

With Club World Cup finances to come - they are the only European team in their group so you would expect them to reach the last 16 and probably go further than that - they find themselves in a better negotiating position than appeared the case a couple of months ago.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport reported on Sunday that Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal with Sunderland to sign Jobe Bellingham for an initial 32m euros (£26.96m) plus 5m euros (£4.2m) in add-ons.

The 19-year-old former Birmingham City midfielder has played for Sunderland since 2023 and helped them secure Premier League promotion this past season, making 43 appearances for the Black Cats and scoring four goals across all competitions.

If the deal is completed by 10 June, Bellingham would be able to play for Borussia Dortmund in the upcoming Club World Cup.

Clubs must submit their squads by 10 June for that tournament, which takes place in the United States from 14 June to 13 July.