Enzo Maresca shortlists £31M Chelsea defender as blockbuster Manchester City signing | OneFootball

Manchester City have registered their interest in Malo Gusto as Enzo Maresca’s first signing at the Etihad Stadium, according to a new report. 

It was revealed on Sunday that Maresca will officially take over from Pep Guardiola this week after the Catalan left the club following a decade of unprecedented success. 

The 55-year-old won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five Carabao Cups and one UEFA Champions League title among others as part of a 20-trophy haul that makes him one of the most decorated in the sport’s history.

And while City fans hoped to get at least one more year out of Guardiola, there is an excitement around the appointment of former Chelsea boss Maresca, who has already set his sights on bringing new faces into the dressing room.

Gusto, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best right-backs since arriving from Ligue 1 side Lyon in 2023, has become a key figure at Stamford Bridge. 

The Frenchman has made more than 130 appearances for the club and possesses versatility, a trait that bodes well with Maresca’s intense, possession-based style.

Now, according to TEAMtalk, City are joined by Bayern Munich in showing interest in the right-back and have sought information regarding his situation as they continue assessing options ahead of the summer transfer window. 

Indeed, Maresca worked closely with Gusto during his short spell as the Chelsea manager and it’s clear that the Italian is still a huge admirer of his former player. 

Not only that, the head coach is set on making more deals happen at the Etihad Stadium alongside sporting director Hugo Viana to help the club win a first Premier League title since 2024 and further success.

Elliot Anderson remains City’s top target but the Blues will probably need to break their £100 million transfer record fee to meet Nottingham Forest’s valuation, meanwhile the prospect of Enzo Fernandez joining the Etihad club fizzled out around a week ago. 

And according to multiple figures, City are not in the market for a left-back this summer, particularly Marc Cucurella, while a person with knowledge of Maresca’s outlook said he would be interested in that addition. 

There’s a huge possibility that City and Viana will spend a lot of money this summer but whether or not Gusto will be Maresca’s first remains to be seen.