Chelsea set €81m asking price for versatile star amid Granit Xhaka pursuit

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Matthew Judge | Editor

Chelsea have slapped an €81million (£70m) valuation on Malo Gusto amid interest from Manchester City, according to reports in Italy.

France international Gusto joined the Blues from Lyon in 2023 and has made 134 appearances for the club, winning the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup double in 2025.

The 23-year-old has impressed with his ability to play in a number of roles, having operated as a right-back, left-back and even as a central midfielder under former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

STATS

Malo Gusto

D (R)

Chelsea

Malo Gusto

D (R)

Chelsea

All Tournaments

2025/26

• 49

  Games

• 3

  Goals

• 5

  Assists

View all stats

However, BBC Sport understands Gusto’s representatives have held exploratory talks with Man City, who are on verge of appointing Maresca as their new head coach, amid Chelsea’s pursuit of Marco Palestra.

The same publication reported earlier in the week that Chelsea are set to sign Palestra after a fee in excess of €50m (£43m) was agreed with Serie A side Atalanta for the 21-year-old defender.

While BBC Sport claims Chelsea value Gusto at €86m (£75m), Italian journalist Luca Cerchione claims the Stamford Bridge club would accept €5m (£5m) less from interested suitors.

Transfers reporter Cerchione was the first to break the news of Chelsea’s pursuit of Palestra and their interest in Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, claiming Xabi Alonso’s side have bid €30m (£25.8m) for his services.

BBC Sport understands Xhaka, who is currently at the World Cup with Switzerland, is open to a reunion with Alonso, with the pair having worked together at Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

STATS

Granit Xhaka

DM, M (C)

Sunderland

Granit Xhaka

DM, M (C)

Sunderland

All Tournaments

2025/26

• 36

  Games

• 1

  Goals

• 6

  Assists

View all stats

However, the same outlet claims Sunderland are not interested in selling Xhaka this summer, with the 33-year-old having played a massive role in them clinching UEFA Europa League football for next season after finishing seventh in the Premier League in 2025-26.

Xhaka interest signals shift in Chelsea transfer strategy

Widespread reports understand Chelsea’s interest in Xhaka stems from Alonso’s desire to add leadership to a youthful side who received an incredible 11 red cards in all competitions last season.

Chelsea have operated a strict transfer policy targeting young, promising players since BlueCo leaders Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took ownership of the club in May 2022.

However, following the sackings of Maresca and Liam Rosenior last season, as well as Chelsea’s 10th-place finish in the Premier League, Eghbali admitted changes need to be made to the club’s recruitment strategy.

In quotes carried by BBC Sport, Eghbali said in April: “I think we've done a few things right, a lot of things right. We've got to be better on a few things, to add more ready-made players at this part of the project, to take (it) to the next level, to be consistent over time. We recognise we need balance. You tweak a model, you improve, you learn from mistakes.”