PSG's Summer Jolt: Malo Gusto Target Amidst Transfer Talks

Sixty-seven days after climbing back to the summit of Europe, Paris Saint-Germain were dragged firmly back to earth.

Their first outing since lifting the Champions League ended in a 3-0 defeat to Real Mallorca, a side freshly relegated to Spain’s second division. A pre-season scoreline, yes, and with a squad missing a large slice of its international core. But it was also a reminder: the European champions still look incomplete.

And in Paris, incomplete squads mean one thing – more transfers.

A Squad Still Under Construction

PSG’s recruitment drive has not paused since the Champions League parade. Two deals are already hovering on the brink of completion: Lucas Digne and Magnes Akliouche stand “on the doorstep” of the club, with only official confirmation missing.

Behind them, more complex dossiers are open. Talks continue for goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma and versatile attacker Mika Godts from Ajax. Neither is straightforward, neither is close enough to call done, but both speak to a clear strategy: deepen the squad, raise the technical ceiling, and protect the club from the dips that have so often cost them in spring.

And then, almost out of nowhere, another name has crashed into the conversation.

Malo Gusto: A New French Target

According to English outlet The Sun, PSG have turned their attention to Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto.

At 23, born in Décines-Charpieu and forged at Olympique Lyonnais, Gusto is hardly an unknown quantity in France. His move to Chelsea in 2023 for €35 million felt like a natural step for a modern full-back: athletic, aggressive, and comfortable high up the pitch.

Last season he underlined that promise. Forty-nine matches in all competitions, three goals, five assists. Enough to earn a place in France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup and cement his status as one of Europe’s most intriguing young right-backs.

That kind of profile doesn’t come cheap. His current valuation sits at €87 million – a figure that makes even a club of PSG’s financial muscle pause. No one doubts his qualities; the question is whether he’s worth that kind of outlay in a summer already packed with priorities.

City Watching, Chelsea Listening

PSG are not alone in admiring him.

Manchester City, who have been scouring the market for a right-back of their own, also placed Gusto on their shortlist earlier in the window. That interest matters, even if it has not yet turned into a full-scale bidding war. It sets a benchmark for the kind of clubs circling him.

Chelsea, for their part, are not closing the door. The London club are open to a sale, especially after the arrival of Marco Balestra, which adds another body to an already crowded defensive line. In a market where balance sheets matter as much as tactics, a high-value departure from a non-core position is always tempting.

That is where PSG come in.

Luis Enrique’s Dilemma on the Right

The Sun reports that PSG are “studying” the Gusto deal, weighing up whether the investment matches the need. His profile appeals to the club’s recruitment team and, crucially, to Luis Enrique.

The Spanish coach has reportedly given his approval to the idea of Gusto as an alternative to Achraf Hakimi. On paper, it makes sense: two high-energy, attacking right-backs to maintain the same tactical structure regardless of rotation, injury, or suspension. For a side that wants to dominate domestically and go deep in Europe every year, that kind of redundancy is priceless.

Yet this was never supposed to be a headline priority for PSG this summer.

Warren Zaïre-Emery’s performances when stepping in on the right have changed the internal conversation. The young midfielder’s ability to adapt, cover ground, and handle big occasions gave the club a reliable, if unconventional, option behind Hakimi. It reduced the sense of urgency for a big-money signing in that area.

So PSG stand at a crossroads: stick with the internal solution that has already impressed, or push hard for a specialist, at a price that will test even their ambition.

A Deal Under the Microscope

For now, the Gusto operation remains in the realm of serious interest rather than imminent agreement.

In France, nothing has been confirmed. There is no green light, no medical pencilled in, no late-night airport arrivals. Just a club studying a deal, a coach who likes the player, and a market that knows Chelsea are listening.

What is certain is this: the European champions have just been beaten 3-0 by a relegated side, their transfer window is still very much alive, and one of the most coveted young right-backs in Europe is on their desk.

Whether PSG decide to pay the price for Malo Gusto will say a lot about how ruthless they intend to be in defending their new status at the top of Europe.