Liverpool fail in Deadline Day bid for Chelsea's Malo Gusto

1 Sept 2026 16:46 BST | 3 min read

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Liverpool tried and failed to make a last-minute push to sign Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto on Deadline Day, according to a report from France.

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Gusto was one of many Chelsea players who found their place at Stamford Bridge vulnerable going into Deadline Day, with the former Lyon player having rejected the possibility of moving to Atletico Madrid, according to L’Equipe.

Searching for a right-back, the Reds made a late effort to take him from Chelsea, but the deal broke down because of a critical reason.

Current ETV

Malo Gusto

D (R)

Chelsea

Malo Gusto

D (R)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€30.1M - €36.8M

Liverpool push for Gusto

Transfer insider Fabrice Hawkins reports: “Liverpool made a final push today to sign Malo Gusto on loan, but the attempt ended without success.

“The Reds were only willing to consider a loan with no mandatory buy clause, while Chelsea were pushing for a permanent transfer.

“Liverpool simply don’t have the financial means to make a permanent deal happen.”

Chelsea’s previously stated asking price for Gusto was an astonishing £75 million (€87.5m) – a figure well in excess of the 23-year-old’s Estimated Transfer Value of £28.7m (€33.5m).

This price was quoted in June, though it is unclear if the Blues were prepared to drop that figure, despite Gusto starting both Premier League fixtures so far this season. Indeed, he even featured as a defensive midfielder in the 4-3 win over Brighton in the absence of Enzo Fernandez.

With the Argentine midfielder poised to leave the club for Manchester City, Chelsea have little incentive to lose another player to a direct rival.

Liverpool losing faith in Frimpong?

Liverpool’s move for Gusto is a sign that the club is losing faith in Jeremie Frimpong, who endured a difficult first season at Anfield because of injury issues.

The Dutchman, who has been handed the daunting task of replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold, has not started the new campaign well and was the subject of severe criticism from Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

“What's the most bizarre is that they haven't signed a left-back and right-back, unless they're going to go to three at the back with the three big centre-backs that they've got,” Neville said.

“If they're going to play a back four, and Kerkez and Frimpong are going to play full-backs, and they're not going to sign a holding midfield player, Liverpool are going to concede a lot of goals.

“The two goals on Saturday, the right-back's nowhere to be seen on the first one and on the second one, he lets the runner go from the throw-in when he should just mark him and run, go with him all the way. He's not got a natural instinct to know how to defend.

“We used to criticise Trent Alexander-Arnold for his defensive work but he is a lot better as a defender than Frimpong and he used to contribute 15 to 20 assists a season and I don't think Frimpong will.”

With Liverpool clearly looking at their options, could it mean there is a different late move at Anfield afoot?