Chelsea warned against selling Malo Gusto despite €88m price tag

Chelsea are reportedly open to parting ways with Malo Gusto if a bid in the region of €88 million (£75m) comes in before the summer window closes, but selling the French defender could prove to be a costly mistake. The 23-year-old has been a mainstay at Stamford Bridge since his €30m arrival from Lyon in 2023, racking up 134 appearances and 20 goal contributions. However, his form tailed off badly in the latter part of the 2025-26 season, and the Blues are now willing to listen to offers. Manchester City are understood to be keen, with new boss Enzo Maresca hoping to reunite with his former Chelsea star, but reports indicate they are reluctant to meet the current asking price. The situation has been further complicated by Chelsea’s €55m capture of Atalanta right-back Matteo Palestra, who arrives as the reigning Serie A Defender of the Year. That signing has cast serious doubt over Gusto’s long-term future at the club, especially with Xabi Alonso set to take charge and oversee a significant squad overhaul. Despite Gusto’s recent dip, the argument for keeping him is strong. He was arguably Chelsea’s second-best player under Mauricio Pochettino, behind Cole Palmer, and remains tactically versatile – he can play in a back four or as a wing-back. His athleticism and ability on the ball are first-class, even if his crossing and finishing need work. More importantly, Palestra is still raw. At 21 years old and with just 53 senior appearances, expecting him to immediately lock down the starting spot is ribroadcaster. Reece James, meanwhile, has battled persistent hamstring issues. Though his fitness had improved, he is currently sidelined with another hamstring problem, and there are concerns he may not feature again at the World Cup. Selling Gusto would leave Chelsea dangerously thin at right-back, heaping pressure on an inexperienced Palestra. Josh Acheampong could fill in, but his future lies at centre-back, and early indications suggest Alonso will give him that chance. Keeping Gusto provides essential depth and insurance for a position that has long been a headache for the club.