Former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna believes Chelsea’s Malo Gusto has the potential to become the best right-back in the Premier League.
Chelsea signed Gusto in £26.3 million deal from Lyon just over a year ago and the 20-year-old has been given more playing time than expected this season due to Reece James’ injuries.
Gusto has been one of Chelsea’s standout performers in recent weeks and Sagna believes the French defender can become the best in his position in the top flight.
‘Malo Gusto and Reece James are going to have to compete for the right back spot and that’s good for Chelsea,’ Sagna told Paddy Power.
‘Gusto is dynamic, fast and good at one on ones. He was doing well at Lyon, and I’m not surprised to see him shining at Chelsea because he has all the qualities to be an important player.
‘Chelsea are in a rebuilding process at the moment and Gusto has been doing well but he can do even better in the coming seasons.
‘He has the quality to become the best right-back in the Premier League, if he keeps playing this way for a whole season.’
Speaking last week, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino also said Gusto is quickly emerging as a key player for his side.
‘The plan for Malo Gusto was that of a 19-year-old player who had come from another league, France, and there were circumstances where a young kid needed time,’ Pochettino said.
‘But it’s true he played before we thought because of the injuries. He needed to perform from the beginning while adapting to the Premier League, to the club, and living in a different country.
‘Malo has suffered with some injuries and that is why we have played sometimes with Alfie Gilchrist or Axel Disasi in that position. But it’s not a surprise the young guys that have arrived need time.
‘He was injured, then he played and then he was injured, but now after eight, nine months, we have started to see what we expected from him.
‘I hope now he can be consistent, if he plays regularly, and starts to show his quality.
‘He is a player with a great capacity going forward and attacking.
‘Like the cross against Brentford, the quality going forward is really good. He needs to improve in other areas and with time for sure he will improve. I’m very happy with how he behaves and how he performs.’
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