MALO GUSTO reportedly wants to join Chelsea ahead of Manchester United.
The Blues are thought to be preparing a second bid after having an £18million offer rejected by Lyon.
Chelsea have identified Gusto, 19, as the successor to iconic right-back Cesar Azpilicueta.
Todd Boehly has already signed six players this month in a bid to back under-fire Graham Potter.
But the American chief wants more incomings before a new Uefa rule banning long-term contracts kicks in.
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And Gusto is top of the list for Chelsea along with a new central midfielder.
The teenager is rated as one of the brightest young talents in French football, prompting the Blues to launch an £18m bid yesterday.
The offer was turned down by Lyon, who are desperate to keep Gusto despite additional interest from Man United.
However, that could prove hard as Foot Mercato claims Gusto is desperate to join Chelsea regardless of United’s presence.
Potter is equally keen to sign Gusto as competition for injury-prone star Reece James.
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And it’s reckoned Chelsea are now preparing a new bid for the young defender worth between £27m and £35m.
Should he move to Stamford Bridge, Gusto would become the latest French star to be snapped up by Chelsea.
The Blues currently boast three Les Bleus aces in N’Golo Kante, Wesley Fofana and new centre-back Benoit Badiashile.
Before them, attackers like Olivier Giroud, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda lit up west London.
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And there have been further fan favourites in Claude Makelele, Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf.
But there have also been several French flops at the Bridge, including Tiemoue Bakayoko, Loic Remy and Lassana Diarra.
Others like William Gallas and Kurt Zouma evoked mixed feelings when they respectively joined rivals Arsenal and West Ham.
And Chelsea fans will be hoping Gusto is nothing but a sure-fire hit should he make the switch.
