Chelsea lining up bid for Lyon right-back Malo Gusto before January deadline?

Chelsea are reportedly planning to table a bid for Lyon right-back Malo Gusto before the January transfer window closes next week.

After forking out in excess of £270m over the summer, the West Londoners – led by co-owner Todd Boehly – have strengthened further in the winter market, spending close to £150m on six new arrivals.

Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Andrey Santos and David Datro Fofana have all moved to Stamford Bridge on permanent deals, while Joao Felix has joined the club on loan from Atletico Madrid.

However, Chelsea are still exploring ways to bolster Graham Potter's squad further, with a new right-back said to be high on their list of priorities.

First-choice right-back Reece James has been hampered with injuries of late, while captain Cesar Azpilicueta is at the backend of his career and he will be out of contract in the summer of 2024.

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Indeed, the 33-year-old has struggled for form in James's absence, with Potter opting to play Trevoh Chalobah as a makeshift right-back in recent weeks.

According to The Telegraph, Chelsea have identified Lyon teenager Gusto as someone with similar characteristics to James, and they are lining up a bid for the Frenchman before the winter window closes on January 31.

The report adds that Lyon are keen to keep hold of Gusto until the end of the season, but Chelsea are hoping to strike a deal this month and will look to tempt the Ligue 1 club with an opening offer.

Gusto joined Lyon's academy in 2016 before working his way up to the senior side and making his debut in August 2021.

The France Under-21 international has since become a first-team regular for Les Gones, making a total of 54 appearances across all competitions, including 15 starts in Ligue 1 this season.

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Gusto, who has also been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United, has less than 18 month remaining on his current contract at the Groupama Stadium.

Chelsea are also believed to be interested in recruiting a centre-midfielder this month, with Benfica's Enzo Fernandez and Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo both high on their list of targets.

Benfica are unwilling to entertain offers for Fernandez below his €120m (£105.7m) release clause, and a recent report claims that Chelsea are preparing to revive their pursuit of the 21-year-old after failing to agree a fee earlier in the window.

Meanwhile, the Blues are also understood to have lodged an improved bid of around £65m to sign Caicedo from Brighton after seeing a £55m offer rejected.