Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Lyon defender Malo Gusto, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Blues are said to be in direct contact with the Ligue 1 club to get the deal done. Gusto could be the West London club’s seventh signing in this busy January transfer window as they look to climb out of the Premier League mid-table mire they currently find themselves in.
Chelsea Agree Personal Terms With Lyon’s Malo Gusto
Chelsea are in direct contact with OL for Malo Gusto. Understand personal terms are already agreed on long term deal, player open to the move. 🚨🔵 #CFC
OL have turned down Chelsea opening verbal bid, as @sebnonda reported — they want Malo Gusto to stay at least until June. pic.twitter.com/mAMz422kbu
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 23, 2023
The Blues’ Problems at Right-Back
Chelsea have had to contend with a number of setbacks at their right-back/right-wing-back position. Their talisman Reece James is out with a knee injury, which he picked up in the club’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth in December. The 23-year-old has had to deal with a number of injuries, which have greatly hampered The Blues’ domestic campaign. Club captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, has also fallen down the pecking order at the right-back spot.
Chelsea manager, Graham Potter has also experimented with a couple of wingers in the right wing-back position. Trevoh Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic have been employed on the right flank at times. In addition to this, Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech started as the right wing-back in Chelsea’s recent draw at Anfield.
Chelsea Looking at Malo Gusto to Solve Their Issues at Right-Back
The French defender, valued at around £22 million, has produced some fine performances for Lyon since breaking into the senior squad from the academy. Moreover, he is capable of playing both in a back-four and back-three system. The 19-year-old is a very agile and offensively-minded player, who used to play as an advanced playmaker in his academy days, before settling as a right-back.
Read More: Arsenal Officially Announce Signing of £17.5 Million Serie A Defender
The youngster is open to a move to West London, however, Lyon want to keep the defender at least until the end of the season. The Ligue 1 giants have turned down an opening bid from Chelsea, claims Romano.
Signing Gusto, would further add to the exciting core of youngsters at Chelsea. However, it remains to be seen if the Blues can get a deal done within the week, before the winter transfer window closes.
