Chelsea and Lyon are continuing direct talks today (Friday) over the signing of right-back Malo Gusto, football.london understands. The Blues are becoming frustrated with the French club's stance over the 19-year-old defender, who has been identified as their No. 1 target this month to offer support to Reece James.
Gusto is someone the west London club have been monitoring for a while, so their interest – that has only become public in the last week or so – is nothing new. The French defender was being looked at during Roman Abramovich's tenure, when there was a completely different recruitment team in place at Chelsea.
Chelsea started talks with Lyon over the weekend for Gusto and came in with an offer, understood to be around €17million (£14.9million), but the French outfit immediately turned that down. Lyon are adamant they will not sell Gusto this month, with Chelsea's late approach not giving them too much time to source a replacement for the young right-back.
READ MORE: Malo Gusto to Chelsea transfer: Lyon statement, Spurs role, Arsenal problem, Man Utd keen
However, football.london understands Gusto has agreed personal terms with Chelsea and does want the move to Stamford Bridge before next week's deadline. Lyon's stance has not deterred Chelsea either. The Blues have been told similar numerous times this window already, with AS Monaco adamant they weren't going to sell Benoit Badiashile and PSV Eindhoven the same over Noni Madueke.
Chelsea, though, do not want to be held to ransom in negotiations. Clubs know about the Blues' financial power and how willing they've been to spend big money on signings they need last summer and this month.
It's understood Chelsea floated the idea verbally of a €23million (£20.2million) on Tuesday evening but Lyon were again stubborn and dismissed the prospect. Chelsea, though, are not put off and are still expected to launch a second offer for Gusto between now and the end of the window.
According to reports in France, Lyon have been looking at other right-backs, so that does suggest there is a strong possibility Gusto will leave the club this month. But as of now, it's frustrating for Chelsea but direct talks are ongoing as we speak, so the Blues will be hoping for some sort of breakthrough in discussions soon.
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