Manchester City maintains its keen interest in Malo Gusto and is considering another attempt to secure the Chelsea defender this January. The key factor in any potential deal will be the price, which Chelsea set at approximately €90 million over the summer—too steep for City at the time.
Gusto remains on City's radar after they missed out on bolstering their right-back position last summer.
The club, then under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, actively pursued the Frenchman, but negotiations faltered due to Chelsea’s lofty valuation.
With Chelsea now open to the possibility of a transfer if the financial terms are attractive, City is poised to revisit their interest.
Gusto's situation at Chelsea has taken a turn recently.
He enjoyed regular playing time under Maresca, but his role has diminished significantly since the arrival of Xabi Alonso.
In fact, he’s featured for just two minutes in the last four Premier League matches.
Alonso has opted for Pedro Neto in the wing-back role, and the summer signing Marco Palhinha has returned to fitness, further diminishing Gusto’s opportunities. Meanwhile, Josh Acihmpong has been favoured as the primary right-back in recent outings.
Despite this, sources indicate that Gusto is content at Chelsea and has not pushed for a move.
However, his stance may shift if his playing time fails to improve.
Paris Saint-Germain is also monitoring the situation and could enter the fray for the defender by 2027.
Chelsea had previously shown a willingness to entertain offers for Gusto last summer, making a transfer next year a distinct possibility should an enticing financial proposal arise.
Any potential pursuit of Gusto by City will also hinge on the fallout from ongoing financial investigations.
Manchester City is awaiting results on their appeal following accusations from the Premier League, with the prospect of serious sanctions affecting their transfer strategy.
Gusto is among several players whose futures at Chelsea remain uncertain, as the club may be open to parting ways with players currently on loan if competitive offers emerge by 2027.
No new discussions have taken place between Manchester City and Chelsea regarding Gusto, but the interest from the Manchester club is still very much alive.
