Chelsea Defender Malo Gusto Nears Exit Amid Decreasing Playing Time

Chelsea defender Malo Gusto is increasingly likely to leave the club next year after seeing his playing time drastically reduced under new manager Xabi Alonso. The France right-back was a key player during his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge following his transfer from Olympique Lyonnais, but he has fallen out of favor at the start of the Premier League campaign.

Although Gusto started three of Chelsea's first four league matches of the season, his involvement has dropped significantly in recent weeks. Alonso has frequently favored academy graduate Josh Acheampong on the right side of his defense. Even when Acheampong missed a recent away match against Sunderland due to a minor injury, Gusto remained on the substitutes' bench while summer signings Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria took the full-back positions.

Gusto logged only five minutes out of a possible 450 across five Premier League fixtures prior to the Sunderland match, and his lack of action has persisted despite club captain Reece James being sidelined with an injury. Once James returns to full fitness, analysts suggest Gusto could become Chelsea's fourth-choice right-back behind James, Acheampong, and Palestra, making a departure increasingly probable.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly monitoring Gusto's current situation at Stamford Bridge ahead of a potential transfer approach next year. Reports indicate that Chelsea may be willing to reduce their initial €90 million asking price to successfully finalize a sale.

Supporters have questioned why Alonso continues to deploy a player expected to leave rather than focusing entirely on athletes tied to the club's long-term future. Analysts note that continuous selection may serve to maintain Gusto's market value and protect Chelsea's negotiating leverage during upcoming transfer windows, though it simultaneously limits opportunities for younger homegrown talent.

Meanwhile, on the international stage, France national team manager Zinédine Zidane continues to look at right-back options for upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Italy and Türkiye. With Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu recently withdrawing from the French squad due to a hamstring injury, Gusto remains an available option within the national setup under Zidane.