Blues hold firm on price tag
Manchester City have told Chelsea they won't be paying £75 million for Malo Gusto. The two clubs remain apart on valuation, but further talks are expected once the World Cup concludes.
The right-back position has become one of the trickiest puzzles of City's summer recruitment. Director of football Hugo Viana and Enzo Maresca both want genuine quality and experience in a spot that went largely unaddressed during Pep Guardiola's final season.
Matheus Nunes filled in from midfield last term. Rico Lewis couldn't lock down consistent minutes either. The situation has made finding a specialist solution before the new campaign a clear priority.
Gusto has been Maresca's preferred choice throughout. The Frenchman knows the manager's system well — two goals and six assists in 72 appearances under Maresca at Chelsea give this pursuit a personal edge beyond standard recruitment logic.
Chelsea's refusal to budge below £75 million has been the main obstacle. The relationship between the clubs carries extra complication following the Maresca compensation dispute settled earlier this summer.
Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider reports City don't want to pay that figure but expect to hold further discussions after the World Cup. Sources indicate Chelsea are open to letting Gusto go for the right price.
Maresca is pushing hard to get it done. He's made right-back a clear priority since arriving at the Etihad. O'Rourke suggests that if there's an indication the player is ready to move, things should ramp up — particularly once the World Cup is finished.
Gusto's situation at Chelsea has grown more complicated. The club are reportedly moving to sign Atalanta's Marco Palestra as competition, adding pressure on the 23-year-old to decide his future before his route to first-team football becomes even less straightforward.
The France international played a late cameo in France's 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco on Thursday. A semi-final against Spain awaits, meaning the post-World Cup conversation that could determine his future remains at least a week away.
City's position — willing but not at £75 million, confident further talks can bridge the gap — suggests a negotiation progressing rather than stalling. Both clubs are waiting for the natural pause the World Cup's conclusion will provide.
Viana's transfer strategy this summer has balanced pushing for Maresca's targets with firm financial discipline. That approach saw City pay £116 million for Elliot Anderson from Forest while resisting other deals deemed overvalued.
Rico Lewis's situation adds urgency. The 21-year-old is understood to be considering his future if regular football can't be guaranteed. His departure would make the Gusto pursuit not just desirable but close to essential for a club currently lacking a specialist Premier League-quality right-back in the senior squad.
Whether Chelsea soften their stance or City decide their financial ceiling is non-negotiable and pivot elsewhere will define the window's final phase.