Maresca will want to keep his best players long termplaceholder image
Maresca will want to keep his best players long term | Getty Images
Chelsea are said to be considering bumping the pay of one of their key players.
Chelsea are now reportedly handing one of their key players a pay rise amid reports Moises Caicedo is in line for a pay bump. The Blues have had a mixed start to the season, currently in ninth place but only three points behind Tottenham in third place, who they face this weekend.
Chelsea are expected to at least finish in the top four this season, while the board will want to see some sort of progress on last season’s fourth-place finish. Although, this Chelsea squad is still young, with the club’s transfer strategy having focused on young talent in the last couple of years.
Even some of the players who are perceived as more senior members are still young, and Malo Gusto fits into that category. Gusto made more than 50 appearances across all competitions last season, but he is still only 22 years of age, and his development is far from done.
Maresca said of Gusto back in February: “I’m very happy with Malo, to be honest, I think he is doing well with us.In this moment, to judge players, it is probably as a consequence of the results also.”
He added after one performance in May: “Malo Gusto is one of my favourite players but the goal we conceded was from his pass. They are young players, after a mistake it doesn’t matter and you have to continue. But after the mistake, he was out of the game. He knows that, and he’s a top player.”
Those comments show, not only does Maresca understand the youthful nature of his squad, but he knows the talent and potential Gusto has, even while improving on the fly with bumps in the road.
And a report from RMC Sport tracks with that, with the French outlet reporting that Gusto could now be in line for a new contract. With the full-back under contract until 2030, an extension is not likely, so it would likely be a pay rise to reflect his importance to Maresca’s plans.
Gusto has started four Premier League games so far this season, coming off the bench three times, while he has made 11 appearances across all competitions. The Frenchman is battling Reece James for a starting spot, but whether he wins that race in the short-term or not, it’s clear the 22-year-old has a big future at Stamford Bridge, given his age and the likelihood he will improve further with more game time in the Premier League and Europe.
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