Chelsea should target Malo Gusto for the rightback department

Malo Gusto of Lyon thanks supporters (Photo by Leandro Amorim/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Malo Gusto of Lyon thanks supporters (Photo by Leandro Amorim/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Lyon’s French defender Malo Gusto (L) and Liverpool’s Greek defender Kostas Tsimikas (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)
Lyon’s French defender Malo Gusto (L) and Liverpool’s Greek defender Kostas Tsimikas (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images) /

Perhaps most importantly, he has averaged 1.9 crosses completed into the penalty area per game, at an incredible 32% success rate. In fact he ranks in the 93rd percentile for passes into the penalty area per 90 and in the 99th percentile for crosses into the penalty area per 90.

Gusto isn’t perfect, as he only ranks in the 58th percentile for percentage of short passes completed (89.2%). This may be because he often attempts a lot of forward passes, which are more likely to be blocked or intercepted than sideways passes. Proof that this is the case is Gusto’s progressive passing distance, where he ranks in the 82nd percentile.

He also ranks in the 7th percentile for errors leading to shots per 90, which suggests he’s weak in that area at the moment, however this particular statistic may mean nothing as fullbacks have extremely difficult tasks dealing with tricky forwards, especially in the box. Finally Gusto ranks in the 25th percentile for mis-controlled balls (1.52/90).

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Overall, Gusto looks like a very good fullback who could become even more. A perk, or disadvantage is that Gusto is still only 19 years-old. It’s a perk in that he would continue to improve his technique the more playing time he gets and so will likely become even better in a few more years. The disadvantage is that his age might mean Lyon will demand a relatively high fee. Gusto is a fantastic player, even at this age, and his addition to CFC’s ranks would reap short term and long term benefits