Lyon's Rayan Cherki, right, is challenged by Reims' Mamadou Diakhon during the French League One soccer match between Lyon and Reims at the Groupama stadium in Decines, outside Lyon, central France. AP
Lyon forward Rayan Cherki, who has been linked with a summer move to the English Premier League, is in line to win his first France cap after coach Didier Deschamps called him up Wednesday to his squad for the Nations League finals.
A product of Lyon's youth academy, the 21-year-old enjoyed a highly successful season in Ligue 1, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists.
That return has prompted interest, according to media reports on both sides of the Channel, from both Liverpool and Manchester United.
"Rayan could have been here in March given what he has achieved with his club," Deschamps said at a press conference on Wednesday.
"He has been so decisive in terms of his goals and his assists."
Deschamps, however, insisted that he had not attempted to influence Cherki's decision to play for France ahead of the other two nations.
"I've never blocked a player or prevented him from making a choice," said Deschamps.
"When I bring them in, it's for our needs, not to prevent them from doing something else. I have never tried that on since I became coach."
Cherki is one of 25 players called up to face Spain in the Nations League semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5. The final and the match for third place are scheduled for June 8.
His elevation to the senior squad all but rules him out of the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia which begins just after the Nations League finals.
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