Enzo Maresca has not been officially announced as Manchester City manager yet, but it is only believed to be a matter of time. Of course, that has not gone down well with Chelsea fans. Many believe that the Italian had his eyes on replacing Pep Guardiola, even while he was at Stamford Bridge, and it was a factor behind him deciding to leave in the middle of the 25/26 season.
Now, Maresca is believed to have an eye on some of Chelsea’s players. It would not come as a surprise if he tries to sign his favourites for Man City this summer.
Two players who have been linked with Man City heavily are Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez. But it looks like it is a 23-year-old Chelsea defender who might end up being Maresca’s first signing for his new club.
According to TEAMtalk, Man City have made enquiries about Malo Gusto after being alerted to the possibility that the Frenchman could become available this summer. Intermediaries have been active behind the scenes.
Could Malo Gusto end up leaving Chelsea this summer?
To be honest, Gusto has not been brilliant for Chelsea in recent times. Many believe that he played his best football for the club under Mauricio Pochettino.
Gusto was a marauding full-back under the management of Pochettino. It never really clicked under Maresca, to be honest. At least on a consistent basis.
Then again, there were some elite performances along the way. The display against PSG in the Club World Cup final was a particular standout and one that will be remembered by Chelsea fans for years to come.
In the big games, Gusto was someone that Maresca did rely on. And he often produced the results to back up that trust. Could the two be set to reunite at Man City?
Malo Gusto leaving would be risky with Xabi Alonso coming in
Reece James is Chelsea’s best right-back. There is little doubt about that. But let’s not overlook his injury history.
Even though James has been able to avoid constant injuries lately, thanks to his load management, he still does pick up some from time to time. Also, we are looking at a small sample size here. There is no way to predict how things will hold up over the next five years.
So, Chelsea should keep around a reliable backup option. Now, many may be open to the idea of Gusto leaving. But the should only be considered if a quality right-back is signed before that.
Also, if Alonso does play with the three-at-the-back system, it might actually suit Gusto better. So, there are a lot of things at play here that should end up determining his future at Chelsea.
There is also a world where both Gusto and James can play in the same team in that system, whether the captain features in midfield or in the right centre-back role, which he often played during Chelsea’s Champions League-winning run under Thomas Tuchel.
Ultimately, the decision should lie with Xabi Alonso. If he feels Gusto can play a role in his system, Chelsea should keep him. If not, an exit should be considered, but not before that discussion has taken place.