Liverpool Eye Malo Gusto as Right-Back Solution

Liverpool are preparing a surprise raid on a Premier League rival as Andoni Iraola pushes hard to fix one of the most awkward gaps in his squad.

The window has crept along at Anfield so far. Two deals, nothing more. Victor Munoz arrived from Osasuna for £34.5 million, then Ronald Araujo’s season-long loan from Barcelona was finally signed off on Monday. Solid business, but nowhere near enough for a manager who wants his team fully armed before the window slams shut in just over a fortnight.

Iraola wants more. A lot more.

Barcola, Ngumoha… and a new right-back?

Bradley Barcola remains the glamour name on Liverpool’s attacking wishlist, but Paris Saint-Germain’s £145m valuation has frozen any serious movement. Unless that figure drops, he stays in Paris.

Even so, the message from Anfield is clear: a winger is a priority. Someone to scrap with Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo for minutes out wide, to keep the front line sharp and rotating.

Just behind that on the to-do list sits right-back. And that’s where the story really starts to heat up.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold gone to Real Madrid on a free last summer, Liverpool’s right side has been a patchwork job. Dominik Szoboszlai had to moonlight there repeatedly last season as injuries kept Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley in and out of the treatment room. Frimpong is now first choice, but his game screams wing-back more than orthodox full-back.

So Liverpool are looking again. This time at Stamford Bridge.

Malo Gusto on Liverpool’s radar

Chelsea’s Malo Gusto has emerged as a serious option, with Liverpool among the clubs tracking the 23-year-old. According to Chelsea insider Simon Phillips, the Frenchman has admirers not only at Anfield but also at Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

The stumbling block is obvious: the price.

Chelsea have slapped a £75m tag on Gusto. City have already walked away from talks after refusing to go that high. Yet there is a twist. Phillips reports that Gusto has been pushing to leave Stamford Bridge for the past four months, and that stance could force Chelsea to soften their demands.

If that happens, Liverpool will be ready.

Gusto’s Chelsea squeeze

Gusto played 34 Premier League games last season, a strong return for a young defender still bedding into English football. But his place in West London has suddenly become less secure.

Chelsea have brought in Marco Palestra from Atalanta for £47m. The Italian is expected to challenge Reece James for a role at right wing-back or even in midfield under Xabi Alonso. That extra body on the right threatens to squeeze Gusto’s minutes just as he should be entering the prime development phase of his career.

Signed from Lyon for £35m as a 19-year-old in January 2023, Gusto has grown into one of the most highly regarded young defenders in the league. He can operate as a traditional right-back or as a more aggressive wing-back, slotting into a range of systems without losing his edge.

The 16-cap France international has already racked up 134 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, chipping in with three goals and 17 assists. Those numbers hint at what he really is: a full-back who wants to dominate his flank, not just defend it.

Why Iraola likes what he sees

Gusto’s profile fits neatly with Iraola’s demands. Liverpool’s new head coach wants intensity, aggression and constant threat from wide areas. Gusto offers blistering pace, a streak of tenacity in the tackle and a willingness to surge forward at every opportunity.

Put him up against Frimpong and you have exactly what elite squads need: genuine competition, two high-octane options for one position, and the flexibility to tweak the shape without weakening the side.

The catch is simple and brutal. £75m.

For now, that figure keeps Liverpool at arm’s length. But if Chelsea blink, if the price dips to something closer to what City were prepared to consider, the equation changes quickly.

At that point, the question won’t be whether Liverpool want Malo Gusto.

It will be whether he’s ready to swap Stamford Bridge for Anfield and throw himself into Iraola’s rapidly evolving project.