Liverpool tried a last-minute move to bring in Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto on deadline day, but talks broke down over how the deal should be structured.
With Conor Bradley nursing an injury and Jeremie Frimpong still finding his feet defensively in the role, Liverpool wanted extra cover at right-back. Gusto looked like a smart short-term fix, but Chelsea wouldn’t agree to a straight loan.
The loan approach
Journalist Fabrice Hawkins reported that Liverpool made one final push for a season-long loan on September 1. The 23-year-old France international appealed to Liverpool because of his Premier League know-how, attacking threat, and ability to play in multiple defensive roles.
Chelsea, though, would only entertain a permanent sale, and Liverpool weren’t ready to stretch to a big fee so late in the window. GOAL reported Liverpool pushed for a loan with no obligation to buy, but Chelsea held firm on wanting a permanent exit. With Liverpool unable to match what Chelsea wanted for an outright transfer in the closing hours, the talks fell apart.
What the collapse says about Liverpool
The bigger takeaway is what this move reveals about Liverpool’s squad depth — reaching out to a direct rival on deadline day shows how badly they felt they needed another right-back.
Gusto would have made sense: quick, forward-thinking, and already used to the pace of the Premier League. A loan would have added depth without another big outlay after a costly summer.
Chelsea’s position also tracks — there’s little upside in loaning out an established 23-year-old to a rival without a clear route to a permanent sale down the line.
So the failed deal is more of a missed opportunity than a crisis, though it does leave the Liverpool boss a bit short-handed at right-back. If Bradley’s injury drags on or Frimpong keeps struggling defensively, Liverpool may end up wishing they’d sorted this before the deadline.
