Manchester City could have received a significant boost in their hopes of signing Malo Gusto from Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium this season. Gusto has established himself as one of the Premier League's most dynamic right-backs since joining Chelsea from Lyon in 2023, combining attacking instinct with the defensive discipline needed to succeed in a demanding system. His rise under Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge last season made him one of the Italian side's most interesting players, with the Frenchman's ability to invert and contribute possession fitting perfectly into the structure Maresca demanded of his full-backs.
According to sources close to Gusto, speaking to Mail Sport's Kieran Gill, the French international would be interested in meeting with his former Chelsea coach, should Maresca's appointment at the Etihad Stadium be formalized in the coming days. However, Chelsea insiders quoted in the same report add that Manchester City are not the only club to express an interest in the 23-year-old this summer, with other top teams in Europe monitoring his situation as the transfer window progresses.
Chelsea's position on Gusto's possible departure remains to be determined, especially given the current compensation dispute between the two clubs over Maresca's departure from Stamford Bridge – a factor that could complicate any direct negotiations should City formalize their interest. City's director of football, Hugo Viana, has identified the right-back position as an area in need of reinforcement as part of a wider squad restructure at the Etihad Stadium this summer. Gusto's profile – a young, technically competent attacking full-back with proven Premier League experience, as well as an understanding of Maresca's system – aligns closely with the type of signing Viana has consistently sought since taking up his role at the club.
The personal dimension of the search adds a level of intrigue rarely seen in the transfer market, with the new manager's previous relationship with a target potentially providing City with an advantage that no single financial bid could replicate. Chelsea's willingness to negotiate with a club with which it is simultaneously in compensation dispute remains one of the most significant sub-themes of City's summer – but Gusto's openness to the move, as reported by Gill, represents a significant development in what could become one of the defining transfers of the window.