Chelsea Defender Open to January Exit Following Lack of Game Time

With just under two months until the January transfer window, players are beginning to understand and establish their roles under new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso.

For those who aren't quite getting the minutes they perhaps anticipated at the beginning of the season, particularly with just the Premier League and FA Cup left to compete for, some may begin to assess their options and consider a possible departure from Stamford Bridge.

During the summer, the Blues reportedly had a list of untouchable players, which included the likes of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, Reece James, Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong.

Players such as Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens were all linked with moves away from west London, but no deal materialised, either because interested clubs failed to make a move or because Chelsea's valuation proved too high.

One player reportedly assessing his options ahead of the January transfer window is full-back Malo Gusto. According to BBC Sport, the Frenchman is open to departing Stamford Bridge after becoming a fringe option under Alonso.

The 23-year-old has started six matches out of a possible 13 in all competitions so far under the Spaniard, with his most recent start coming in October during Chelsea's penalty shootout exit to Liverpool in the League Cup.

Gusto was recently called up to Zinédine Zidane's French squad for November following his omission from the previous international break and has generally struggled for game time under Alonso.

The Frenchman joined the Blues from Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais for a fee in the region of £26 million, plus add-ons, in January 2023. He was subsequently loaned back to the French side before joining up with Chelsea in the summer ahead of the 2023/24 season under Mauricio Pochettino.

With Reece James, Josh Acheampong, Marco Palestra and Pedro Neto all capable of occupying the right-hand side, Alonso has plenty of options available, potentially leaving Gusto surplus to requirements.

Following James' injury, Acheampong has taken his opportunity and become a mainstay of the Blues' defence. The defender has started five of the last six matches, with his only absence forced by a minor issue.

Italian defender Marco Palestra is another option who appears to be ahead of the Frenchman. The Serie A Defender of the Year joined the London side in July for a fee of around £47m, but his start has been hampered by injury. In the recent 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, the 21-year-old was introduced from the bench ahead of Gusto. If Palestra establishes himself in the side, Gusto could find himself slipping further down the pecking order.

If Gusto were to leave Chelsea in January, it remains unknown where he could end up. The most recent reported interest came from Manchester City, who are managed by former boss Enzo Maresca. However, any potential move failed to materialise after a price tag in the region of £70 million was placed on the right-back.

Xabi Alonso and the sporting leadership team have a decision to make in the coming weeks. Cashing in on the defender and potentially reinvesting the funds back into the squad could be the best decision for all parties.