Fans believe the comparisons between Rayan Cherki and Florian Wirtz have been settled following a standout moment during the France vs Germany clash.
Both players—Cherki (21) and Wirtz (22)—have been heavily linked with Premier League moves this summer. Liverpool are reportedly pursuing Wirtz, while Manchester City are monitoring Cherki.
The two young talents faced off on Sunday in the UEFA Nations League third-place match, which ended in a 2-0 win for France in Stuttgart.
Both started the match, but a particular sequence during the game convinced fans that one of them clearly had the edge. While France were pressing forward, Cherki managed to escape pressure, spinning away from Pascal Groß before confidently nutmegging Wirtz. The move quickly went viral, sparking reactions on social media.
One fan joked, “Can’t wait for Wirtz to join Liverpool and Cherki to sign for City—my star is going to work him over so bad.”
Another chimed in: “Cherki really just did that to Wirtz?”
A third commented, “The Cherki vs Wirtz debate is done before the season even kicks off.”
And a fourth noted, “Wirtz starts, Germany lose again. Cherki starts, France win.”
Wirtz has earned 31 caps for Germany, while Cherki, who now has two caps, made his debut last Thursday against Spain, scoring in a 5-4 thriller.
Is Cherki headed to Manchester City?
According to Fabrizio Romano, a move could be finalized soon. Speaking on his YouTube channel on Saturday, Romano stated:
“My expectation is that this will be sorted over the weekend, and the player will undergo his medical and travel with the City squad for the FIFA Club World Cup early next week. That’s the plan—Man City are pushing hard to sign him.”
What about Wirtz and Liverpool?
Liverpool’s interest in the Bayer Leverkusen star is no secret. Their opening offer was reportedly £109 million, followed by a second bid of £113 million. However, Leverkusen are said to be holding out for around £126 million.
According to the Mail, sources in Germany suggest Leverkusen are now ready to receive what is expected to be Liverpool’s final written offer, potentially worth up to £118 million with bonuses and add-ons included.