In a recent report, Foot Mercato claimed that Chelsea have launched a move for Olympique Lyonnais full-back Malo Gusto. It has been revealed that the Blues have registered their interest in recruiting the French talent.
Gusto’s Decent Form At Lyon This Season
The talented teenager is enjoying a good campaign in French football as he has put in a series of solid performances on the right side of Lyon’s defence. Gusto has failed to find the back of the net but has secured one assist in 15 appearances for his current employers this season across all fronts.
The 19-year-old has been a reliable performer on the right flank based on his average of 2.1 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 0.9 clearances, 1.4 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in Ligue 1. He has even been tidy when distributing the ball going forward after completing 84.7% of his attempted passes in top-flight (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the French club is set to expire in the summer of 2024. Hence, Chelsea could potentially land him on a cut-price fee at the end of this campaign.
Is Gusto A Good Option For Chelsea Boss Graham Potter?
Gusto is a solid tackler of the ball and can read the danger well to secure the ball back for his team on the defensive third of the pitch. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed and can create some decent plays for others around him from the right flank.
The French youngster can also complete some decent dribbles in the opponent’s half. Thus, he will be a good fit for Graham Potter‘s brand of football at Stamford Bridge. He is primarily a right-back but can also fill in as a central defender or as a right-sided wide player if his manager asks him to do so.
We can expect Gusto to add more quality to Chelsea‘s defence and could offer some serious competition for Reece James in the race to secure a regular starting spot at the West London club in the coming seasons.
Gusto could even serve as an ideal, long-term replacement for Cesar Azpilicueta at Stamford Bridge. All in all, he would be a great option for the Blues to pursue before the end of this month. If Potter fails to land him during this window, he should think about returning for the French sensation next summer when he will have just one year remaining in his Lyon contract.
