Liverpool made a late attempt to sign Chelsea defender Malo Gusto on the final day of the transfer window, but the clubs were unable to reach an agreement over the structure of a potential deal.
According to journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Liverpool were prepared to consider only a loan for the France international, without an obligation to buy him at the end of the temporary move.
Chelsea, however, wanted Gusto to leave on a permanent transfer and were not willing to accept the terms proposed by Liverpool. The Premier League clubs therefore failed to agree a deal before the transfer window closed.
Liverpool’s financial position meant they could not complete a permanent move for Gusto on the conditions sought by Chelsea. As a result, the defender remained at Stamford Bridge after the late approach from the Merseyside club.
The report provides an explanation for why Liverpool’s interest did not lead to a transfer, despite the club making a final effort to bring Gusto in before the deadline. The key disagreement centred on whether the move would be temporary or permanent, rather than on the absence of interest from Liverpool.
Chelsea were understood to be open to allowing Gusto to depart, but the London club were seeking a substantial fee for the defender. That expectation did not match Liverpool’s ability to proceed with a permanent transfer, while Chelsea also did not agree to the loan-only arrangement preferred by their Premier League rivals.
The gap between the two clubs’ positions left no route to an agreement. Liverpool’s proposal would have allowed them to take Gusto on loan without committing to a future purchase, while Chelsea’s stance was that any departure should generate a permanent transfer fee.
Gusto’s prospective move was therefore not completed, following Liverpool’s late attempt to negotiate a deal with Chelsea. The defender’s immediate future was settled at Chelsea after the clubs failed to reconcile their differing financial and contractual demands.