Chelsea are edging closer to completing their seventh signing in the January transfer window with Malo Gusto arriving in London to complete a medical, football.london understands.
As reported on Monday afternoon, the Blues entered negotiations to discuss a possible transfer for the 19-year-old right-back. Gusto has been identified as their main target in that position between now and the end of the window, despite Lyon standing firm in their stance that he will stay in France until the end of the season.
Chelsea were keen to offer more support to Reece James, who has struggled with injury problems this season, and now look set to sign Gusto after agreeing a £26.3million fee plus add-ons with Lyon. The young Frenchman has been on the club's radar for some time now, so this is not something that has happened overnight – this is in fact years in the making.
READ MORE: Malo Gusto arrives in London for medical after Chelsea agree £26.3m transfer
Personal terms have already been agreed with the player and an announcement could come this weekend should the defender's medical be completed successfully. Gusto has already offered his own verdict on his play style and what Graham Potter and Chelsea fans can expect of him once he joins the club in the summer.
A speedy, physical, attacking full-back with an eye for a cross – Gusto is very much in the same profile to James with the way he likes to play his football. A lot of his attributes at right-back are down to playing in midfield naturally, when he was coming through the academy system at Lyon.
When asked by Lyon's website in January 2021 about how he became a right-back, Gusto said: "At the start it was to make up the numbers after an injury in the next age group – Under-17s at the time. So the coach put me at right-back and I had a good match, and the coach hasn't changed my position since.
"At first it was tough for me and my father too, who had always seen me play more attacking and now say me at the back. But it's still football, you have to study the position and you progress quickly."
James, although being a full-back by trade, has also slotted in midfield before for Chelsea and on loan at Wigan Athletic, where he really showed his talents at a professional level for the first time. The modern day full-back has to be technically brilliant. See Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, for instance, he likes his full-backs to slot into midfield when his team are in possession.
Gusto is that. When watching him, it's clear to see how comfortable and confident he is when in possession. With how quick and powerful he is, it makes for a very promising full-back. And being 19, working with James, Chelsea could have a special player on their hands should they complete the signing.
When asked to describe his style of play, Gusto replied: "Rather attacking, punchy, powerful, fast, technically adept. And I think those are the qualities that a modern full-back should have."
Gusto, however, knows there is still plenty of room for improvement before he is the complete right-back. He added: "I know I still have to work on my defensive positioning and tracking back."
Talks between Chelsea and Lyon are expected to continue as the week progresses. At the time of writing, it seems the two parties are some way off in their valuation of the highly-rated teenager, who also has interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, Chelsea have shown in this transfer window that they will pay whatever it takes to help improve Graham Potter's squad.
READ NEXT:
Graham Potter's £45m transfer verdict hands Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke Chelsea warning
Chelsea receive major N'Golo Kante injury boost ahead of hopeful Borussia Dortmund return
Todd Boehly vision clear amid January window as Chelsea aim to avoid Roman Abramovich blindspot
Find the footballs on the football.london website to win cash prize, vouchers and TV worth £3,000
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
