Maresca's City Move Sparks Chelsea Raid: Gusto in Etihad Crosshairs

Enzo Maresca's impending arrival at Manchester City threatens to raid his former employers, with the Blues' right-back Malo Gusto emerging as a prime target for the Etihad outfit.

The Italian tactician, who departed Chelsea on New Year's Day following a disappointing spell and a three-year contract agreement with City, is keen to reunite with the 23-year-old Frenchman. Maresca's previous role as Pep Guardiola's assistant gives him inside knowledge of City's operations, and he's wasting little time in identifying recruitment priorities.

City have made formal enquiries about Gusto's availability after being informed he could potentially leave Stamford Bridge this summer. The club is actively pursuing defensive reinforcements, with the right-back position a key area of focus following Maresca's recommendation.

The incoming manager is understood to be a strong admirer of Gusto's capabilities and believes the defender would flourish under City's system. Beyond his primary role on the flank, Gusto's ability to operate as a wing-back or drift into midfield appeals to Maresca's tactical vision.

Bayern Munich have also registered their interest in the Chelsea defender, creating a competitive situation for his services. However, Chelsea appear unbothered by the attention. New boss Xabi Alonso is expected to hand Gusto a prominent place in his squad, and the club may even offer fresh terms to ward off suitors.

Gusto originally joined Chelsea for £30.7m, so any interested party would need to substantially exceed that figure to tempt the Blues into negotiations.

Fernandez and Cucurella also in City's sights

Maresca's shopping list doesn't end there. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez represents a secondary option should City miss out on Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, while left-back Marc Cucurella is a longstanding City target dating back to their failed 2022 pursuit when Chelsea swooped ahead of them.

Both players enjoyed strong relationships with Maresca during his time at the Bridge. Fernandez has publicly questioned Chelsea's decision to move on from the manager, whilst Cucurella would theoretically welcome a reunion as he hunts for silverware. Real Madrid remains Fernandez's preferred destination, however, just as Barcelona is Cucurella's favoured option.