Chelsea suffer huge Malo Gusto blow as Lyon President confirms January transfer stance

Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has handed Chelsea a transfer blow after outlining their intentions over full-back Malo Gusto.

The 19-year-old has been the subject of strong interest from Chelsea this month and a €20 million bid has already been rejected.

Chelsea are hoping to wrap up a deal for Gusto before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline, with the player ready to make the switch to Stamford Bridge after agreeing a six-and-a-half-year deal.

Graham Potter‘s side have been claimed to be preparing a new €30-40 million offer for Gusto to try to get a deal over the line to bolster their wing-back position, to offer cover to Reece James who has been in and out of the side through injury.

Lyon want to keep the Frenchman at the club until the end of the season and told Chelsea they wanted to include a loan back in the deal if they were to agree to sell him to the Blues this month. However, both Chelsea and Gusto are reluctant and want a straight transfer now.

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Now their President, Aulas, has come out on Twitter to declare Lyon’s intentions of keeping the defender this month.

Taking to Twitter, Aulas announced: “I have the pleasure to confirm the team on KTE but also to specify that Malo, a great hope of the OL, will continue to play with the OL at least until 30/06/23.”

Aulas has previous history for this, with statement on Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Hatem Ben Arfa, Karim Benzema, Hugo Lloris, Corentin Tolisso, Alexandre Lacazette, Nabil Fekir, Tanguy Ndombele, Memphis Depay, and, most recently, Bruno Guimaraes.

“Olympique Lyonnais categorically denies the false information disseminated by many media reporting an agreement between Newcastle and OL for the transfer of Brazilian international midfielder Bruno Guimaraes,” said the French club in January 2022.

“In this transfer window period where the slightest rumour is often presented as reality, Olympique Lyonnais reminds that only information officially released by the club is to be taken into consideration.”

Despite Aulas’ public statement of saying Gusto will stay, his word shouldn’t hold much weight following previous statements even though Lyon are desperate to keep hold of the full-back until the end of the season.