Chelsea nonetheless pursuing Malo Gusto deal regardless of Aulas remarks as Lyon set asking fee
Chelsea will need to double their opening provide for Malo Gusto if they are to convince Lyon to sell the right-back this month, according to reports.
The west London membership have already introduced six new players this month however Graham Potter stays eager to bring in both a new right-sided defender and a midfielder.
Gusto has been identified as the perfect player to act as cowl and opposition for the injury-plagued Reece James, with Potter worried through the backup selections presently at his disposal.
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta’s form has dropped off drastically and there are question marks over whether he nonetheless has the athleticism to play at right wing-back.
That noticed Potter switch to a returned four and use centre-back Trevoh Chalobah at right-back instead, even though he would ideally like to sign a player who can more seamlessly stand in for James.
But their pursuit of Gusto hit a primary stumbling block on Thursday when Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed that the 19-year-old would now not be bought this month.
‘Malo, a splendid hope for OL, will proceed to play with OL at least until 06/20/23,’ he wrote on Twitter.
However, Chelsea have not yet given up on signing Gusto and The Telegraph are reporting that Lyon could be prepared to cash in despite Aulas’ comments if their asking fee is met.
The teenager’s present day contract expires in 18 months’ time and the Ligue 1 aspect are conscious that they are walking out of time to cash in.
They are therefore believed to price Gusto at round £35million though Chelsea’s opening offer fell nicely short of that figure.
The first offer from the Premier League membership valued the France Under-21 global at around £17.6m much less than half of Lyon’s asking charge which may have been what prompted Aulas’ comments.
On many occasions in the past, the Lyon president has publicly said a participant would not be leaving only for them to be bought not lengthy after such as with Alexandre Lacazette and Tanguy Ndombele, and, going again further, even Michael Essien and Florent Malouda earlier than they were signed via Chelsea.
The west Londoners are expected to return with a clean provide earlier than the transfer deadline, while they are also pursuing a new midfielder with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo their top pursuits in spite of being rebuffed via Benfica and Brighton already.