Chelsea FC has reportedly secured the services of highly-rated right-back Malo Gusto, in a deal worth £26.3m.
Chelsea FC has reportedly secured the services of highly-rated right-back Malo Gusto, in a deal worth £26.3m, according to Sky Sports . The 19-year-old defender, who currently plies his trade at Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais, will reportedly spend the remainder of the season on loan with his current club before linking up with his new teammates at Stamford Bridge in the summer.
This signing comes as Chelsea’s manager Graham Potter continues to rebuild his squad with the support of club owner Todd Boehly. The London-based club set a Premier League record last summer with a spending spree of £270m, and this transfer window has seen them bring in six new players – Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Benoit Badashile, David Fofana, and Andrey Santos.
Chelsea has struggled defensively this season, with first-choice right-back Reece James spending several weeks on the sidelines due to injury. However, he has returned to full training and is expected to be available for selection again soon. Spain international César Azpilicueta has also failed to secure a starting berth this season due to his poor displays, which has made the need to sign a right-back a priority for the club.
The West Londoners were reportedly linked with a move for a host of right-backs, including Celtic’s Josip Juranovic and Sporting’s Pedro Porro, but it seems that Potter has finally landed his man in Gusto. The deal was completed smoothly after Lyon’s head coach Laurent Blanc was guaranteed by the club’s board that Gusto would stay at the club for the remainder of the season.
This is a signing that could bring a new dimension to Chelsea’s defense and solidify the right back position for the long term. It is exciting to see how Gusto will adapt to the Premier League and how he will fit into Chelsea’s system. Fans will have to wait until next season to see him in action for Chelsea but it is a transfer that is worth keeping an eye on.