Chelsea star agrees to join Manchester City and reunite with Enzo Maresca this summer | OneFootball

Manchester City have secured the approval of Malo Gusto over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium this summer, according to new reports in France.

City’s recruitment team have been assessing a number of right-back options across the market during the opening weeks of the summer window, including checks on Feyenoord’s Givairo Read and looking into Tottenham’s Pedro Porro prior to his long-term contract extension.

However, the tactical familiarity Malo Gusto possesses with incoming manager Enzo Maresca’s patterns has consistently kept the 23-year-old right-back at the summit of Hugo Viana’s transfer target list.

With the player currently focused on representing his country at the FIFA World Cup and looking ahead to the all-important knockout rounds in North America, the player’s camp is simultaneously looking to resolve his club future.

Gusto gives green light to Man City transfer

Now, according to Footmercato’s Santi Aouna, Manchester City officials have received a positive response from Malo Gusto, who has agreed to join the club this summer in the event of an agreement being reached with Chelsea on a fee.

It is explained that incoming Etihad Stadium manager Enzo Maresca has a very good relationship with the French full-back and wants to make him a key part of his new project in Manchester.

As for the side of the right-back, Gusto himself is also said to be keen on the idea of ​​reuniting with Maresca, although convincing Chelsea to sell the highly-rated defender ‘will be more difficult’.

How Chelsea could allow a deal to happen

The ultimate outcome of this transfer story will rest entirely on whether Chelsea officials come down on their £75 million valuation as they finalise their own summer work ahead of the Premier League opener in late-August.

Chelsea have already secured a replacement by finalising a €55 million deal for Serie A Defender of the Year Marco Palestra from Atalanta, meaning they possess the depth to let Gusto depart if their valuation is satisfied.

If the London club refuses to lower expectations toward City’s reported £45 million valuation of Gusto, Viana is likely to be prepared to pivot to cheaper alternatives, further enabling Matheus Nunes to retain a hold on the first-choice right-back slot for the forthcoming season.