Could this Man City star end up at Arsenal if City are sanctioned?

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Arsenal are keeping tabs on Rayan Cherki, with the Frenchman's future at Manchester City potentially tied to the outcome of the club's ongoing financial case.

According to TEAMtalk, the Gunners would consider a move for Cherki if City were hit with a severe sanction, such as relegation, as a result of their case. Arsenal have long admired the attacking midfielder's technical ability and his knack for creating chances between the lines.

A familiar name on Arsenal's radar

This is not the first time Cherki has been linked with a move to north London. Arsenal and Liverpool were both reportedly interested before he completed his switch from Lyon to the Etihad in 2025, with City winning that particular race.

Since arriving in England, Cherki has established himself as one of the Premier League's most technically gifted attacking players. His creativity, close control and vision have translated to English football, even with the long-standing questions over his physicality.

Tactically, he would offer Mikel Arteta something different. Cherki can operate centrally as a number ten or drift in from the right, and that flexibility would give Arsenal another inventive option in the final third.

Why a deal remains unlikely for now

The obvious obstacle is that City have no reason to sell. Cherki is contracted at the Etihad until 2030, and under normal circumstances he would be untouchable.

The report is clear that there is currently no indication Cherki is pushing for an exit, nor that Arsenal have opened any form of negotiation. Everything hinges on whether a sanction forces City into a squad rebuild — and that is a significant "if".

Should he become available, Arsenal would be far from alone. Liverpool, who explored a deal before his City move, are expected to compete again, while Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have all been linked with potential interest.

That is the kind of competition that drives a price well beyond comfortable levels, even in a scenario where City are obliged to cash in. A forced sale rarely means a cheap one when half of Europe's elite are circling.

A conditional story

It is worth stressing the nature of this one. TEAMtalk are a reputable outlet, but this is a contingency link rather than a live pursuit — Arsenal monitoring a situation that may never materialise, rather than a club preparing a bid.

Cherki's future will be determined by the outcome of City's case and whether any resulting sanction creates a realistic route for rivals to make an approach. Until there is clarity on that front, the Frenchman remains a City player with four years left on his deal.

For Arsenal, the sensible reading is that the recruitment team are doing what good recruitment teams do: tracking elite talent and preparing for scenarios that may or may not arrive. Whether this one ever moves beyond the monitoring stage depends entirely on decisions being made a long way from the Emirates.