Manchester City revive Malo Gusto pursuit as club awaits possible Premier League sanctions

Manchester City are preparing a major January move for Chelsea defender Malo Gusto while awaiting a possible punishment linked to 114 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial fair-play rules.

City remain top of the Premier League despite their recent defeat by Aston Villa, but the club are attempting to keep their attention away from the external pressure surrounding the case. Manager Enzo Maresca, however, is already looking beyond the current campaign and assessing potential moves for the future.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, citing reports from England, Manchester City have decided to revive their interest in Gusto.

Maresca previously worked with the 23-year-old during his time at Stamford Bridge a few months ago and is prepared to return to the negotiating table for the player.

City are still waiting for a punishment that could have financial consequences and might even prevent them from signing new players. Despite that uncertainty, the club’s sporting department is continuing its transfer planning as normal.

A new and expensive deal could be pursued in January. TeamTalk reports that Manchester City are expected to make an approach for Gusto during the winter transfer window.

The Premier League leaders are hoping Chelsea will reduce their asking price when the market reopens, having taken a firm stance during discussions between the clubs in last summer’s transfer window.

Chelsea were seeking at least 83m euros (£70m) for the defender several months ago. The London club had set the same valuation for Gusto, who came through the academy at French club Olympique Lyonnais before establishing himself in the Premier League during his three years with Chelsea.

The scale of the proposed fee can be illustrated by the current record for a right-back. Achraf Hakimi remains the most expensive player in that position, having joined Paris Saint-Germain from Inter Milan in 2020 for 68m euros.

English reports have indicated that Chelsea’s demands for Gusto may have fallen since the summer, although Manchester City’s circumstances create uncertainty around any possible agreement.

The club could be tempted to complete new signings quickly before a final punishment is announced. That possibility could also encourage other clubs to set higher prices for their players, knowing that City may feel pressure to conclude deals before any sanctions come into force.

Gusto has therefore emerged as a potential January target at a time when Manchester City’s transfer plans are being shaped not only by their sporting needs, but also by the prospect of restrictions on future recruitment.