Chelsea Defender Open to January Exit Amid Recent Manchester City Transfer Interest

Chelsea Defender Open to January Exit Amid Recent Manchester City Transfer Interest Assessing the work of Hugo Viana at Manchester City so far More Videos The 23-year-old joined the London side from Olympique Lyonnais in January 2023 on a contract valid until 2030 for a reported fee of £26.3 million before being loaned back to the Ligue 1 club until the end of that campaign. Following his arrival at Chelsea , the defender was able to establish himself as a regular under now-former head coach Enzo Maresca, who was appointed in June 2024, making a total of 134 appearances until the 2025/26 season. Maresca ultimately stepped down from his role at Chelsea on January 1 following disagreements and tensions with the club, leading to a return to Manchester City during the past summer on an initial three-year deal as successor to Pep Guardiola. City were heavily linked with a transfer interest for Malo Gusto during the recent summer window, however Chelsea’s hefty price tag for the player reportedly put any potential move at odds. Xabi Alonso took charge as Chelsea's new manager prior to the ongoing season back in July, and it appears Malo Gusto’s time on the pitch has since diminished, especially in the Premier League. The Lyon graduate has started in only three of the seven English top-flight games he has appeared in this season and has registered a solitary assist in his outings in the Carabao Cup - a competition in which Chelsea have now exited at the hands of Liverpool . With the London side also not playing in any European competitions this season, Malo Gusto’s chances of making appearances are limited to the FA Cup and Premier League, where he is yet to earn a steady place in Xabi Alonso’s pecking order. Malo Gusto has not started a game in the top-flight for over two months now, having mostly been replaced by Josh Acheampong at right-back, and even with club captain Reece James on the sidelines due to injury. Given his current situation at Stamford Bridge in terms of game time, a potential departure from Chelsea seems likely for the defender, and a new report from BBC Sport has suggested that he is 'assessing his options' ahead of the January transfer window. Earlier reports mentioned that Chelsea were open to parting ways with the Frenchman in the summer, with an asking price of £75 million in place. However, the Premier League side’s current stance on the player’s potential exit remains unclear. Manchester City , who were one of the right-back’s top suitors in the summer, could once again consider pursuing him if Chelsea decide to put him on the market in January, especially considering his previous 18-month association with Enzo Maresca. During his managerial tenure at Chelsea, the Italian coach heaped praise on Malo Gusto’s qualities on the pitch and could be open to a potential reunion at the Etihad Stadium. It is currently unconfirmed whether City still hold an interest in securing the defender’s services, and this may depend on Chelsea’s asking price, which could remain high given that he has over three and a half years left on his current contract. Those at Stamford Bridge are reportedly looking to sign a midfielder themselves, which could open the way for Malo Gusto’s departure.