Manchester United are reportedly monitoring Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto, with Manchester City also credited with admiration for the French defender as questions grow over his reduced role at Stamford Bridge. The latest transfer reports suggest the 23-year-old could attract renewed interest ahead of the January window, although neither Manchester club has confirmed a formal bid and Chelsea have not announced any decision to sell.
A report carried by talkSPORT says both United and City are keeping tabs on Gusto. The report places Chelsea’s asking price at around £75 million. A separate report from African Football has cited a valuation of approximately €80 million, while earlier summer coverage from FootballTransfers also referred to a figure above €80 million.
The different figures should be treated as reported asking-price estimates, not a confirmed transfer fee. The available reports do not establish that Chelsea have received an official offer from either Manchester club.
Reduced role at Chelsea fuels transfer speculation
Gusto’s situation has become a central part of the transfer discussion. BBC Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella reported on November 11 that the defender was assessing his options before the January transfer window after struggling to secure regular starts under head coach Xabi Alonso. According to the BBC report republished by Yahoo Sports, Gusto had not started a Premier League match for more than two months and had increasingly lost his place to academy graduate Josh Acheampong.
That report also recalled that Chelsea were open to selling the Frenchman during the summer and had set a £75 million asking price for interested clubs. It added that Manchester City were among the clubs interested at that time, although it was unclear whether that interest remained active.
talkSPORT’s latest report adds Manchester United to the picture, creating the possibility of competition between the Premier League rivals. However, monitoring a player is not the same as making an approach, agreeing personal terms or negotiating a transfer. At the time of publication, no completed deal or formal bid has been confirmed by the clubs.
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Why Manchester United could be interested
United’s reported interest is understandable from a squad-building perspective. Gusto is a specialist right-back who can also operate on the left and contribute higher up the pitch. His pace, willingness to overlap and ability to support attacks could offer a different profile to the options already available to United.
A move would nevertheless depend on the club’s recruitment priorities, budget and assessment of the player’s current form. A fee approaching £75 million or €80 million would represent a major investment for a full-back, particularly when United may have other positions to strengthen. The club would also need to determine whether Gusto is available and whether Chelsea would negotiate at a lower figure.
Manchester City’s interest and the Maresca connection
City have a longer-standing connection to the story. BBC Sport reported in June that Gusto’s representatives had held exploratory discussions with several clubs, including City, while Chelsea were understood to be demanding more than £75 million. The BBC report noted that City were looking for a natural right-back but that Gusto was not considered a leading candidate at that point in the summer window.
The possible appeal for City includes the opportunity to add a young, attack-minded defender with Premier League experience. City’s manager Enzo Maresca previously worked with Gusto at Chelsea, a relationship that has been mentioned in reports about the club’s earlier interest. That familiarity could be a factor, but it does not confirm that City are preparing a bid now.
The Evening Standard also reported in June that City were among clubs interested in Gusto and that Chelsea valued him at £75 million. The report said Chelsea were not actively looking to sell at that stage, underlining how the club’s position may depend on squad planning and the offers received.
What Chelsea’s valuation means
The reported £75 million valuation is a significant obstacle for potential buyers. It would place Gusto among the more expensive full-backs in the market and give Chelsea a strong negotiating position, particularly because the player remains under contract until 2030, according to the club’s official profile.
Chelsea signed Gusto from Lyon in January 2023 before allowing him to finish that season on loan in France. The club’s official player profile describes his development into a versatile defender capable of operating at right-back, left-back and in midfield. His age, experience and contract length are all factors that can influence the club’s valuation.
There is also a distinction between a club’s asking price and a player’s estimated market value. Transfer valuation websites and media reports use different methods and assumptions. The €80 million figure should therefore be presented as a reported Chelsea demand, not as an agreed market price or an amount any buying club has accepted.
Transfer outlook: interest is reported, but negotiations remain unconfirmed
For now, the situation is one to watch rather than a deal nearing completion. United are being linked with the defender in the latest reporting, City’s admiration has been documented previously, and Gusto’s reduced playing time has increased speculation about his future. Yet there is no official confirmation that either club has submitted an offer.
The next developments to monitor are whether Chelsea indicate a willingness to negotiate, whether either Manchester club makes a formal approach and whether Gusto’s first-team opportunities change in the coming weeks. A January move would require agreement between the clubs and the player, and the reported valuation could prove decisive.
HeadlinesXtra Analysis: Gusto’s profile makes him an attractive option for clubs seeking a modern full-back, but the asking price is likely to shape the entire race. United may view him as a long-term defensive investment, while City’s reported interest has a previous link through Maresca. Chelsea, meanwhile, hold the contractual advantage. Until an official approach is confirmed, this remains transfer interest reported by media outlets rather than an imminent transfer.
Sources and further reading
talkSPORT – Manchester United and Manchester City monitor Malo Gusto
BBC Sport report via Yahoo – Gusto assessing his options before January
BBC Sport – Gusto’s Chelsea future and Manchester City’s previous interest
The Standard – Chelsea’s stance and reported valuation
Chelsea FC – Official Malo Gusto profile and career information
FootballTransfers – Recent transfer-rumour round-up
African Football – Manchester United interest and €80m valuation report
Editorial note: This article distinguishes reported interest from confirmed negotiations. The valuations cited are media-reported asking-price figures and may change. Photographs are illustrative, not images of transfer negotiations. Each image is credited and linked to its original licence page.