Manchester City are considering a January move for Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto after his asking price dropped, according to reports.
The France international was on City's radar last summer, but the £70m valuation put them off. TEAMtalk now claim that figure has fallen, opening the door to a possible switch to the Etihad.
Why the interest makes sense
Enzo Maresca has a glaring hole at right-back. With Rico Lewis the only natural option in the first-team squad, the position has been a problem since Kyle Walker's departure. Maresca knows Gusto well from their time together at Chelsea, and that connection already paid off when Enzo Fernandez arrived on Deadline Day last month.
Chelsea's willingness to sell stems from Gusto's poor form. He has slipped behind Pedro Neto and Marco Palestra for starts on the right flank, even with captain Reece James out injured.
Other names in the frame
City have also been linked with Brentford's Michael Kayode and Barcelona's Jules Kounde. Kounde, who missed El Clasico with an ankle injury, had started the previous two league games. Unlike Gusto, the Frenchman may prefer to stay at the Camp Nou. Kayode, by contrast, would likely jump at the chance to join City, which could make him a simpler proposition.
Any move still hinges on the outcome of City's appeal after being found guilty of multiple breaches of Premier League FFP rules. A final verdict is expected to take a long time.