Chelsea values Malo Gusto at £75M, no active sale efforts despite Man City interest

Chelsea has slapped a £75 million price tag on Malo Gusto, effectively telling Manchester City and anyone else sniffing around that the French right-back isn’t going anywhere. The club has no plans to actively sell the 22-year-old defender, though in football, every player has a price.

Here’s the thing about that £75 million figure: Transfermarkt currently lists Gusto’s market value at €35 million. Chelsea is essentially asking for more than double what independent valuators think he’s worth.

The economics of saying “no” loudly

Gusto arrived at Stamford Bridge from Lyon in January 2023 for a reported €30 million guaranteed fee, with an additional €10 million in potential bonuses tied to performance milestones. Following the transfer, he was loaned back to Lyon for the remainder of the season.

The defender is under contract until 2030. When a club holds a player on a long-term deal, they don’t need to sell, and they certainly don’t need to negotiate from a position of weakness.

Manchester City have reportedly shown interest. Inter Milan have also been linked with the Frenchman, though no formal sale process is confirmed.

Why Chelsea is drawing a line in the sand

The £75 million valuation also serves as a psychological deterrent. By setting the bar that high publicly, Chelsea ensures that any club considering a move has to weigh whether a right-back is worth that kind of investment.

What this means for the transfer window

The gap between Transfermarkt’s €35 million valuation and Chelsea’s £75 million asking price is worth watching. If a club actually meets that price, it would represent a massive return on Chelsea’s initial €30 million investment, roughly tripling their money in just over two years.

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