Chelsea put Man City target Malo Gusto up for sale - at a price that has stunned suitors

Chelsea are willing to sell Malo Gusto to Manchester City this summer, yet the France international right-back won't be leaving Stamford Bridge on the cheap. According to RMC Sport, the Blues have set a price of £75 million (€87m) for the 23-year-old, a figure that has left potential buyers reluctant to move. Gusto has come in for criticism since his €30m move from Lyon in 2023. Now, with Marco Palestra adding to the competition in Xabi Alonso's squad, his path to regular minutes has become less clear. Manchester City are among the clubs tracking him, and their manager Enzo Maresca knows the defender well from his time as Chelsea head coach. However, City are said to have recoiled at the valuation. RMC Sport notes that many clubs consider the amount well above market value. Chelsea's stance is understandable from a negotiating perspective because Gusto still has four years left on his contract. But the numbers involved are hard to justify. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) is €37.2m (nearly £32m), having peaked at €45.9m (£39.3m). That means Chelsea are effectively asking a buying club to pay close to twice the player's highest market value to date. If he fails to earn a place in Alonso's Premier League squad, he would also be an expensive option to keep on the bench. Gusto was one of the better full-backs in the Premier League last season, with SciSports ranking him in the top third of performers at his position. His passing and crossing were particular strengths. Maresca made his admiration clear when he was still at Chelsea. "We have said many times Malo is a main player in the way we want to play. He can play in different positions. We like players who we can be dynamic with. Malo is one of them," he said last November. "We are very happy with Malo. I can say that since I joined the club, I have considered Malo a main player for us." Gusto's influence at Stamford Bridge faded after Maresca left and Reece James returned to full fitness. Maresca still appears to rate him highly, but whether anyone pays Chelsea's asking price is another matter entirely.