footballtransfers.com

Enzo Maresca wants Chelsea star as first Man City signing

Updated: 1 Jun 2026 13:41 BST | 4 min read

Enzo Maresca, Man City

Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Manchester City have reportedly submitted an enquiry to Chelsea regarding a potential summer deal for Malo Gusto as Enzo Maresca looks to secure a reunion with the France international.

Maresca, 46, left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent on New Year’s Day and he is widely expected to become the new Man City manager following Pep Guardiola’s departure after an immense 10-year spell at the club.

The Italian has been locked in talks with the City hierarchy for months and it’s believed that a full agreement has been reached, with a formal announcement expected to be released shortly.

Maresca spent the 2022-23 season as Guardiola’s assistant manager at the Etihad Stadium, while he had also previously been in charge of the club’s U21 side in his first role as a manager following stints on the coaching staff of Ascoli, Sevilla and West Ham United.

Several Chelsea stars have been linked with a summer move to City due to Maresca’s imminent appointment, including Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella, and Gusto has now emerged as the latest player who could follow his former boss to the Etihad Stadium.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk" href="https://www.teamtalk.com/manchester-city/malo-gusto-transfer-man-city-chelsea-bayern-munich-interest" target="_blank">TEAMtalk, who claim that Man City and Bayern Munich have both lodged enquiries over a possible deal for the 23-year-old this summer.

Gusto has made over 130 appearances for Chelsea since his arrival from Lyon in 2023, but he endured an underwhelming end to the 2025-26 season and a host of Blues fans have called for the club to consider a sale as a result of his poor form over the past few months.

Man City and Bayern are both in the market for a new right-back during the 2026 summer transfer window, and it’s reported that Gusto has been sounded out as a possible target, in part due to his tactical flexibility.

The Frenchman has played the right-back role in a number of different ways during his Chelsea career to date, while he was even trusted to play in central midfield by Maresca against Liverpool earlier this season. As a result, he is reportedly viewed as an ideal signing by Man City as they prepare for their first season without Guardiola in charge of the club since 2015-16.

Malo Gusto, Chelsea

Malo Gusto to Man City?

A number of Chelsea stars have been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit following their failure to qualify for any European competition this season, although the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager has given cause for optimism heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

While the aforementioned Fernandez and Cucurella have hinted they could leave this summer, Gusto is yet to follow suit and with four years remaining on his current contract, a departure seems unlikely unless Chelsea receive a substantial offer.

His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €41.7 million, but it will likely take a far higher fee for Man City to tempt Chelsea into a sale this summer, meaning a deal remains improbable as things stand.