Enzo Maresca left Chelsea in January and is set to replace Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager this summer.
Manchester City is preparing to invest heavily in its playing squad, targeting Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson for £116 million and considering a move for right‑back Gusto.
Chelsea has placed a £75 million price tag on the 23‑year‑old French defender, a valuation that City is reportedly unwilling to match.
Gusto remains under contract with Chelsea until 2030 after his £30.7 million transfer from Lyon three years ago, and he has expressed a desire to join the Manchester club.
Chelsea has already reached an initial agreement with Atalanta for another right‑back, Marco Palestra, for €60 million (£51.6 million) plus a 10 percent sell‑on clause.
The deal for Palestra includes €57 million (£49.1 million) upfront and €3 million (£2.5 million) in add‑ons, with the player signing a five‑year contract worth €5 million (£2.5 million) per season.
The addition of Palestra, alongside existing right‑back Reece James, will shape the likelihood of Gusto’s departure from Chelsea.
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, whose four‑year contract begins on July 1, emphasized the club’s ambition to compete consistently for trophies and to build a strong, winning culture.
