Chelsea have been told that young star Malo Gusto will remain at Lyon until the end of the season.
The Blues have already splashed out over £200million on transfers this month and are keen to continue their spending by bringing the 19-year-old to Stamford Bridge this month. The Stamford Bridge hierarchy see Gusto as the ideal right-sided alternative to Reece James, currently out injured.
Gusto currently has 18 months left on his contract at Parc OL but the France youth international has shown little inclination to put pen to paper on new terms. That had led the Blues to explore whether a deal could be done this month before the close of the transfer window - with a £17million offer already rejected.
Now, speaking to L’Equipe on Thursday, Aulas declared: “I can confirm that Malo [Gusto], a great hope for Lyon, will stay here at least until the end of the season”.
Lyon have no intention of letting Gusto go on the cheap despite his contract status and desire to move. It's understood personal terms have already been agreed.
Aulas comments are, it's suggested, designed to drive up the price, with OL understood to be wanting in excess of £25million to part with the talented youngster who has also been watched by the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent months.
With the interest of those clubs in mind, one potential alternative is for Chelsea to seal a deal and leave him on loan with the Ligue 1 club until summer. However, amid the club’s current Premier League struggles - they sit 10th in the table at present - Graham Potter is desperate to bring in someone immediately.
Gusto made his debut for Les Gones at the age of 17 and the teenager has already made 54 appearances for the senior side. Interestingly, Lyon have been monitoring a couple of Premier League full-backs as potential long-term replacements, with in the shape of Tottenham's Djed Spence and Brighton's Tariq Lamptey.
