Malo Gusto Open to Chelsea Exit as Liverpool Interest Builds

What happened

Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto is open to leaving the club in the January transfer window and is assessing his options, according to a report by BBC Sport's Nizaar Kinsella cited by Football365. The report states that Chelsea's own stance is unclear, though the club were willing to sell the French defender in the summer and set a £75m asking price for interested parties. Manchester City, now managed by former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, were among the clubs interested, although it is not known whether they retain that interest.

Report details

Gusto, 23, joined Chelsea from Lyon in the 2023 winter window for around £26m plus add-ons and has made 144 appearances in all competitions, becoming a regular from the start of the 2023/24 campaign. Football365 describes him as one of Chelsea's standout performers in an otherwise poor 2025/26 season, and notes he was heavily linked with an exit in the summer. The report attributes part of the opening for a January departure to his limited role at the start of this season, where he has been a bit-part player.

Liverpool feature prominently as a possible destination. According to the report, the door is open for the Reds partly because of Gusto's willingness to leave and partly because of their need to address the right-back position. Liverpool enquired about the defender in the summer, and Tottenham Hotspur were among other Premier League clubs to explore his availability. The report adds that both could emerge as destinations if Gusto's situation develops in the coming weeks, and that Liverpool are open to signing a specialist right-back in 2027 amid well-publicised issues in that area and doubts over whether they will pay to make Ronald Araujo's move permanent.

The claims are attributed to media reporting rather than official confirmation from Chelsea or Liverpool, and the source does not establish Gusto's preferred destination or any agreed fee. The figures and timelines above reflect what the cited reports state.