Man City target Malo Gusto is on the market, with Chelsea “open to offers” for the France international, according to reports.
Writing on his Substack, journalist Simon Phillips said that the defender’s agent has had “talks” with City, as well as several other teams.
Despite making 49 appearances in all competitions for the Blues last season, the London club believe they will be able to replace Gusto.
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City are believed to be interested mainly due to prospective new head coach Enzo Maresca, who is said to have a good relationship with the player, having managed him for eighteen months at Stamford Bridge.
Gusto would strengthen a problem position
Director of Football Hugo Viana was expected to add a new right-back to the first-team squad during the summer transfer window.
A replacement for Kyle Walker was not brought in last year. There was interest in Tino Livramento, but the club ultimately decided that the player would cost too much.
Manager Pep Guardiola ended up starting midfielder Matheus Nunes in that position on a regular basis. The Portuguese international did a good job, but he was never seen as a long-term solution. For that reason, a move for someone like Gusto would make sense.
Man City have looked at several right-backs
The likes of Atalanta’s Marco Palestra, Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, Roma’s Wesley, Juventus’s Andrea Cambiaso and Brentford’s Michael Kayode have all been mentioned as possible options to strengthen the right-hand side of defence, along with Livramento.
Palestra appears set to join Inter Milan, while Cambiaso has (coincidentally) been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent days.
Gusto is just the latest name under consideration, but Chelsea’s willingness to sell and Maresca’s past history with the player may propel him to the top of the shortlist.
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