Chelsea have identified Lyon’s Malo Gusto as the main target to bolster their right-back position in the winter market.
On Tuesday, Foot Mercato reported the 19-year-old has a good chance of ending up at the west London club.
L’Equipe now claim the Blues came forward with a €20m bid to sign the defender, who ‘absolutely wants to join Chelsea’ before the window closes next Tuesday.
The Ligue 1 side are not satisfied with this proposal as they hope to collect in excess of €30m from the France U21 international’s sale. Gusto has a deal until 2024 and L’Equipe state Graham Potter’s side should return with an improved offer to secure his services.
It’s claimed the fullback has agreed a long-term contract [six-and-a-half-year deal] with Chelsea. Gusto wants the move to be sealed as soon as possible and ‘cannot imagine’ the transfer collapsing.
Gusto’s departure in January was not expected, but Lyon are aware it is difficult for him to resist Chelsea’s sporting and financial appeal. The French club would have hoped to get him back on loan until the end of this season, but this option is dismissed by the Blues.
Faced with the possibility of losing the player to Chelsea, Lyon have started identifying his potential successors in the market.
