Chelsea and Lyon have agreed on a new contract, but Lyon full-back Malo Gusto will not join the club until the summer.
Chelsea: The Premier League and Ligue 1 clubs have reached “an agreement in principle,” according to Athletic.com, with Chelsea paying 30 million euros (£26.3 million) up front, with additional payments to follow.
The 19-year-old will stay at Lyon for the rest of the season before joining his new teammates in the summer, though he will have a medical with the Blues this month.
Gusto was brought in as a backup for Reece James, who is dealing with a slew of injuries, but it’s clear that he won’t be there for the rest of the season.
James is back to full fitness after suffering two knee injuries this season and could play in Chelsea’s next Premier League game against Fulham on February 3.
It appears that they will go to the end of the season with the picks they have and then see Gusto play against the England international later this year.
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Chelsea has already signed Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Joao Felix, Andrey Santos, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke.
The Blues have been linked with Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandes, and Amadou Diallo before the transfer window closes next week.