Lyon full-back Malo Gusto undergoes medical in London ahead of £26.3m move to Chelsea

Lyon full-back Malo Gust has undergone a medical in London ahead of his move to Chelsea.

The Blues have struck a £26.3million deal with the French outfit to sign the highly-rated defender, who will stay on loan with Lyon for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea were keen to bring in a right-back alternative to Reece James and identified 19 year-old France under-21 international defender Gusto.

The Blues were met with initial resistance to their interest from Lyon with president Jean-Michel Aulas publicly declaring Gusto ‘will continue to play’ for Lyon until the end of the season.

He will join Christopher Nkunku as a pre-agreed summer arrival after Chelsea also finalised a £53m deal to sign the France forward from RB Leipzig.

Gusto, 19, has made 54 appearances for Lyon's first-team in three years and has become a regular feature in their starting line-up, despite his age.

Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei, their £12m summer signing from Inter Milan, is to join Reading on loan after this weekend.

Gusto will be Chelsea’s seventh signing of this window including the loan capture of Joao Felix.

There remains the possibility of an eighth with central midfield another department Chelsea are keen to strengthen.

They have so far been frustrated in their attempts this month to land the likes of Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez, Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Everton’s Amadou Onana.