Liverpool made a last-ditch attempt to sign Malo Gusto from Chelsea before the summer window closed, according to French transfer insider Fabrice Hawkins — but the move never got off the ground.

Why Liverpool Went Shopping for a Right-Back

Injuries have gutted Liverpool’s fullback options. With Conor Bradley still working his way back from a long-term injury, Jeremie Frimpong has been left as Andoni Iraola’s only senior right-back — and he’s looked shaky early on. That forced the manager to push Dominik Szoboszlai into the role late against Nottingham Forest, echoing last season’s makeshift fixes under Arne Slot.

Chelsea, by contrast, are stacked in that position. Reece James remains arguably the Premier League’s best fullback despite being used in midfield, while Marco Palestra and Gusto add further depth — leaving the France international expendable.

The Deal That Fell Through

Hawkins reports Liverpool tried to take Gusto on loan without an obligation to buy, but Chelsea shut the proposal down. The Blues are only willing to sell outright, and reportedly want a fee well above his £30m Transfermarkt valuation. With Liverpool unable to match those demands, the move now looks dead.

A Rocky Start to the Season

The timing adds pressure. Liverpool sit 13th after two winless league games, following a 2-2 draw with Forest at Anfield. It’s only the second time in 14 Premier League seasons they’ve failed to win either of their opening two fixtures — the last time led to a fifth-place finish. Iraola’s side next travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town on Friday night.