Chelsea's £75m asking price for Malo Gusto stalls Maresca's Man City rebuild

Manchester City’s pursuit of Chelsea right back Malo Gusto has hit an immediate obstacle, with the London club demanding £75m for the French defender — a figure City regard as too steep to justify.

Enzo Maresca, appointed to lead City’s bid to reclaim the Premier League after title wins for Liverpool and Arsenal in the past two seasons, had placed Gusto at the top of his summer transfer list. The Italian worked with the 22-year-old during his time at Stamford Bridge and is keen to bring familiar faces to the Etihad as he reshapes the squad.

Chelsea’s resolve has not softened despite their recent signing of Italian right back Marco Palestra from Atalanta. The club view Palestra as competition for the position rather than a replacement, meaning they have no incentive to lower their valuation of Gusto.

With that avenue looking increasingly unlikely, City are assessing alternatives. Newcastle’s Tino Livramento is understood to be a long-term target, though concerns over his injury record may discourage a serious approach. Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, a 20-year-old Dutch full back valued at around £25m, is also on the radar, though he would require time to adjust to the Premier League. Martim Fernandes, another 20-year-old, this time from Porto, is a further option under consideration.

In the interim, Matheus Nunes remains the first-choice right back at the Etihad, but Maresca is keen to add depth to the position before the new season. The difficulty in prising Gusto away from Chelsea underlines the challenge City face in rebuilding quickly — particularly when targeting players from a direct domestic rival who has little reason to sell.