Is the hunt for a right-back for Manchester City pointing in one direction? | OneFootball

For now, it does seem that the summer transfer window is on pause as the 2026 World Cup reaches its crescendo. Manchester City have completed the signings of Elliot Anderson, Pierce Charles, Mathys Detourbet, and Jeremy Monga. However, there are other areas of Enzo Maresca’s squad that need to be refined. The positions that City look to be focused on strengthening are right-back, another midfielder and potentially another winger. It would also appear that the transfer market may spark to life when the World Cup concludes.

Looking at Manchester City’s chase for a right-back to provide cover and competition for Matheus Nunes, it seems that City may have settled on the player they wish to sign. Chelsea’s French international Malo Gusto seems to be City’s first-choice signing based on what has unfolded with other right-backs so far this summer.

Manchester City have reportedly received the ‘green light’ to move for Malo Gusto as other right-back targets come off the market.

Pete O’Rourke has reported for Football Insider that Manchester City have been given the ‘green light’ to pursue a move for Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto. Furthermore, it is reported that Enzo Maresca has identified the French international as his top target to bolster the right-back position. It is also reported that City have held talks with Gusto’s representatives over a potential summer move to the FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners. Lastly, O’Rourke reports that with Chelsea signing Marco Palestra from Atalanta and also having Reece James at the club, they may be willing to sell Malo Gusto this summer.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Nottingham Forest have seen a bid rejected by Feyenoord for Givairo Read. Read has previously been named as a Manchester City transfer target. Romano reports that Feyenoord rejected Forest’s opening bid of €17.5 million. Lastly, Romano adds that Nottingham Forest are expected to return with an improved offer for Read.

Also, another potential target for Manchester City to come in at right-back, Marco Palestra, has completed a move from Atalanta to Chelsea. With that move complete, the list of right-backs that City could sign has dwindled.

Perhaps there will be movement on City’s bid to sign Malo Gusto after the World Cup.

Based on Palestra’s move to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest’s bid to sign Givairo Read from Feyenoord, it would seem that Manchester City have settled on a move for Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto. Looking at the Givairo Read situation, if City had planned to move for the talented young full-back, it is unlikely that they’d let Forest swoop in first. Perhaps that could change, but it does seem improbable that City would let another club get in ahead of them for a player they were targeting.

Assuming the pieces have fallen the way recent reports indicate, Malo Gusto looms as the right-back that City will target. However, Chelsea’s asking price may be steep if City do pursue a move for him. Also, with Malo Gusto at the World Cup with France, with a semi-final and one other match left to play, there is unlikely to be any substantial updates on Manchester City’s reported chase for Gusto until the World Cup ends.

It does seem that Malo Gusto is the last right-back standing in a sense for Manchester City to attempt to sign this summer. Looking at how the right-back market is playing out, Gusto does look to be the player that City want to sign to provide cover and competition for Matheus Nunes. It now remains to be seen if that is what transpires this summer.