City Eye Gusto as Maresca Plans Overhaul

Manchester City are reportedly preparing a shock move to sign Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto as part of a significant summer rebuild. The news emerges as former City assistant Enzo Maresca, now in charge at Chelsea, shapes a new era at Stamford Bridge.

According to reports, City have identified Gusto as a target to strengthen their defensive options. The 21-year-old Frenchman has impressed since joining Chelsea from Lyon in January 2023, but Maresca may be willing to do business with his former club.

Background: Familiarity Between Clubs

The connection between City and Chelsea has intensified in recent seasons, with several players moving between the two. Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer, and Romeo Lavia have all swapped Manchester for London, while City have previously pursued Marc Cucurella. Maresca’s time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant adds another layer to the potential deal.

Gusto has made 37 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea this season, registering 6 assists. His marauding runs from right-back and ability to play in midfield have drawn comparisons with City’s Kyle Walker, though Gusto offers more attacking verve.

Impact on City and Chelsea

For City, signing Gusto would provide long-term succession planning for Walker, who turns 34 next week. Guardiola values full-backs who can invert into midfield, a role Gusto has executed effectively at Chelsea. However, City already have Rico Lewis, 19, emerging in that position, making any move potentially competitive for minutes.

From Chelsea’s perspective, selling Gusto would raise pure profit on the books, aiding their compliance with Profit and Sustainability Rules. The Blues have already offloaded several academy graduates this summer, and Gusto, signed for £26m, could command a fee north of £40m given his age and contract until 2029.

  • Gusto’s versatility suits Guardiola’s system, capable of playing right-back, wing-back, or central midfield.
  • City have won 4 of their last 5 Premier League matches but conceded in each, highlighting defensive frailties.
  • FPL managers: Gusto (£5.0m, 12.6% ownership) has favourable fixtures if he stays, but a transfer could affect minutes.

What's Next

Talks are at an early stage, and City may face competition from other European clubs. Maresca’s stance will be key: he values Gusto but may need to sell to fund his own signings. If the move materialises, it would represent one of the summer's biggest transfers, reshaping both defences ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

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