Malo Gusto: Lyon president stuns Chelsea with transfer stance

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 26 Jan 2023 14:05 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of Lyon right-back Malo Gusto, with the president of the Ligue 1 club giving a forceful address on the player’s situation.

Gusto has been linked to a string of Premier League clubs during this window, with Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United all interested in the 19-year-old.

Chelsea, though, have been the most dogged in their chase for the full-back, with reports suggesting that they were on the brink of making a second offer for Gusto around the €40 million mark, which Lyon had been expected to accept.

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OL president Jean-Michel Aulas, though, has come out punching via social media to address the status of Gusto and Lyon team-mate Karl Toko-Ekambi, who is heading to Rennes on loan.

“Since I am actively participating with Vincent (Ponsot), Bruno (Cheyrou) and Laurent (Blanc) in this great January transfer market, I am pleased to confirm L'Equipe’s on Karl Toko Ekambi but also to specify that Malo Gusto, a great prospect for OL, will continue to play with the club until at least until June 30, 2023,” he said.

Lyon had been linked with the likes of Tariq Lamptey of Brighton and Djed Spence of Tottenham as possible Gusto replacements.

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Rayan Cherki to PSG?

Earlier in the day, Aulas had addressed rumours that another major Lyon prospect Rayan Cherki could leave for PSG.

Cherki has been one of the few success stories for Lyon in recent weeks, which have seen Blanc’s side struggle domestically, suggesting that they will once again miss out on qualification for European football.

PSG, meanwhile, were linked with the dashing playmaker, who is valued by FootballTransfers at €9.3 million. Aulas, however, dashed any prospect of that deal progressing.

“If there’s one thing that we can all agree on – supporters, club, staff, players – it’s that a talent like Rayan will stay with Lyon. Thanks to L’Equipe, but don’t look for one more click to send him to the bench of a club where he wouldn’t be able to express himself like at home!” he said.

Cherki, like Gusto, then, is set to stay with Lyon until the end of the season.