How Chelsea could line up with Malo Gusto AND Reece James

Cameron Smith

• 19 Mar 2024 16:55 GMT
• 4 min read

The majority of Chelsea’s new signings over the past 18 months haven’t quite worked out, but Malo Gusto is one of the very few exceptions.

The 20-year-old initially joined the Blues back in January 2023, however he was loaned straight back to Lyon for the rest of last season and he joined up with his new team-mates ahead of the current campaign.

Gusto initially arrived as a long-awaited back-up for Chelsea club captain Reece James, a player with unlimited potential on his day but one who is perennially injured.

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Trevoh Chalobah and Cesar Azpilicueta had filled in with limited success during the 2022-23 season and signing a quality back-up for James was deemed an absolute necessity. However, Gusto has shattered all expectations.

The Frenchman was an extremely talented player at Lyon, but he was often inconsistent and he didn’t appear ready to play regular football for a club like Chelsea just yet. However, he has arguably been one of the Blues’ best players this season.

James has featured on just nine occasions this year, due to two separate injuries, and Gusto has filled in masterfully on the right flank.

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In fact, the Frenchman has impressed so much that many have suggested that James may find it difficult to win his place back in the Chelsea starting XI.

Despite this, James remains Chelsea’s captain and with his return to fitness now appearing imminent, Mauricio Pochettino must assess how to solve his upcoming selection headache.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through three options for the Chelsea boss.

1. Reece James at RB & Malo Gusto at LB

Chelsea are actively pursuing a new left-back and Gusto has proven that he is more than adequate in that position during his rare appearances on the left flank this campaign.

Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella would lose out, but Gusto is a better player than both and it would allow Pochettino to deploy two top quality full-backs in the same team.

2. Reece James at RCB & Malo Gusto at RWB

Reports earlier this year suggested that Pochettino was considering moving to a back three/five system in order to fix Chelsea’s leaky defence. A formation alteration may also aid Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in midfield, while playing James at centre-back may reduce his chance of injury due to less attacking demand.

Gusto is also brilliant in the final-third and would be able to hold width down the right, enabling Cole Palmer to drift inside.

3. Reece James at CM & Malo Gusto at RB

James has rarely played in central midfield at Chelsea, but the Englishman has been deployed in that role on occasion for the Blues and he spent a significant portion of his loan spell at Wigan Athletic in midfield.

With Chelsea’s options in the middle of the park limited due to the injuries to Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu, deploying James in midfield is an option and would allow Gusto to continue playing in his preferred right-back role.

Of course, Gusto may lose his place in the Chelsea starting XI when James returns from injury, but the young Frenchman has done enough to prove he deserves regular minutes at Stamford Bridge.