{"id":3648,"date":"2026-09-07T14:02:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T14:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3648"},"modified":"2026-09-07T14:02:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T14:02:43","slug":"chelsea-considered-signing-free-agent-who-would-have-prevented-malo-gusto-experiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3648","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea considered signing free agent who would have prevented Malo Gusto experiment"},"content":{"rendered":"


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With Moises Caicedo injured and Enzo Fernandez gone, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has been forced to play Malo Gusto in midfield.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gusto<\/a> played there on Sunday after coming on in the second half of Chelsea\u2019s<\/a> 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.<\/p>\n

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How can Xabi Alonso get Estevao Willian into the side? \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n

The Brazilian has seen very little action under his new manager\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Estevao<\/div>
Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Chelsea did try to sign Lamine Camara<\/a> to replace Fernandez, but a deal collapsed at the very end. It is also thought that the Blues considered a couple of free agents, including Renato Sanches.<\/p>\n

Chelsea considered signing Renato Sanches on a free transfer<\/h2>\n

Sanches is a free agent after being released by Paris Saint-Germain and was reportedly an option for Chelsea, although they did not bite in the end.<\/p>\n

According to Foot Mercato<\/a>, Chelsea considered signing Sanches, who ticked a lot of boxes for the club. For whatever reason, though, they eventually opted to turn down the opportunity to recruit the 29-year-old.<\/p>\n

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\"Renato<\/div>
Photo by Fran Santiago\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It means Alonso will have to make do with Gusto, Romeo Lavia, Reece James and Valentin Barco until Caicedo is fit again.<\/p>\n

Two of those players are defenders, so it is not the most inspiring list right now. Jordan Henderson is one more option, but he is still recovering from an injury himself.<\/p>\n

In James\u2019 defence, he can do a job in the engine room, but no one wants to see Gusto playing as a midfielder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Renato Sanches a significantly better midfield option than Malo Gusto<\/h2>\n

It is early days, but there has been nothing to suggest that Gusto is going to develop into a world-class midfielder in the near future. He just does not have the attributes to make a real impact in that area of the pitch.<\/p>\n

I am not Sanches\u2019 biggest fan, and most people are probably not these days. He is 29 now, this is no longer a talented young player trying to fulfil his potential.<\/p>\n

With that being said, he is still a natural midfielder. Whether it was him or Georginio Wijnaldum brought in, they could have done a much better job than Gusto in the middle of the park.<\/p>\n

It was claimed that Chelsea also considered Wijnaldum before deciding to stick with what they have got.<\/p>\n

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