After their poor performance in the Premier League last season, Chelsea are facing a major turnover in playing staff. One player who looks set to leave the club is full-back Malo Gusto – and he already has a potential suitor working to bring him on board.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the player and his agents have given the ‘green light’ to a potential transfer to Manchester City – it seems that he will be a Sky Blues player imminently.
However, he will not come cheap. Chelsea value him at £50 million, given his young age (23) and experience in England’s top flight. However, money is seldom an issue for a club of City’s stature and financial muscle.
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He had been tentatively linked with a move to Arsenal earlier in the window, but these concerns have been swept aside over the last couple of days, with a move to the Etihad Stadium now looking like a very strong probability.
City see Gusto as a long-term replacement to legendary full-back Kyle Walker, according to reports. They haven’t really filled the gap that the former Tottenham Hotspur man left behind as of yet. Matheus Nunes did an excellent job at right-back last season, but he is a central midfielder – not a defender.
Furthermore, Gusto played his best football under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea last season – much more so than he did under Liam Rosenior. As such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the new City boss is keen for a reunion.
He was included in France’s 2026 World Cup squad by international head coach Didier Deschamps – he has made two appearances from the bench at the tournament so far.
Malo Gusto 2025/26 Premier League stats
Games Goals Assists Yellow Cards Red Cards
Malo Gusto 34 2 3 3 1
Chelsea suffered a pretty dismal campaign last season. Finishing tenth in the league table, below the likes of Sunderland, Bournemouth and Brentford, they also failed to win a single trophy (the 2025 Club World Cup notwithstanding).
He scored two goals and notched up three assists for the Blues – these aren’t terrible numbers by any stretch of the imagination, but they aren’t enormously inspiring, either.
He also played in 34 of Chelsea’s 38 Premier League games last season. He only missed one game through injury, when he picked up an illness – such reliability is very important in the modern game.
What would Malo Gusto bring to Manchester City?
A high-energy full-back with bags of pace, Gusto is an underrated player in our eyes. At just 23 years of age, he has plenty of time to improve upon his existing skillset, too.
He’s an adaptable player, being capable of fulfilling several roles. While he is a natural right-back, he can also play at left-back or even as a defensive midfielder if needed. Theoretically, due to his solid fundamentals and electric pace, he should also be able to play as a wing-back.
Furthermore, he has no issues with putting in a strong tackle, a testament to his bravery and work-rate on the pitch. This can sometimes work against him – he has picked up two red cards during his time at Stamford Bridge so far.