Chelsea Plans Contract Extension for Defender Malo Gusto

Chelsea is actively working to secure a new contract for their young French defender Malo Gusto, aiming to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge beyond 2030 while offering him a significant pay rise. Despite some inconsistency since his €35 million transfer, Gusto remains a valuable and versatile player for the club, having contributed across multiple positions and earning a place in the French national team. The club views him as a long-term asset crucial to their defensive depth, especially given Reece James' injury history, and hopes to fend off interest from other major clubs like Bayern Munich through the new deal. Gusto has made 10 to 11 appearances this season, showing growth and promising performances that support Chelsea's ambition to compete for major trophies. The negotiations reflect Chelsea's broader strategy of securing key young talents with improved contracts even before their current deals expire, as seen with other players like Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson. The outcome of these talks will be pivotal for Chelsea's future squad stability and competitive aspirations.