Suggestions that West Ham United were close to signing Axel Disasi may be slightly wide of the mark.
On Thursday night, reports suggested that West Ham are closing in on the signing of Disasi on loan from Chelsea.
The Hammers are in dire need of defensive reinforcements after conceding 45 goals in the Premier League this season.
On a scale of 1-10, how much does Axel Disasi actually improve West Ham’s defence? 👀
Not to knock him as a player, but he’s hardly played in months!
Chelsea outcast Axel Disasi in rare first-team action
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
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Indeed, Disasi has been a West Ham transfer target for a while, and the Frenchman was open about the fact he snubbed a move to east London last summer.
On paper, it looked like a fairly routine move. The former Monaco defender isn’t playing at Chelsea and will surely want some first team football at some point.
However, it seems Chelsea do have other ideas in mind.
Chelsea tell West Ham they want to sell Axel Disasi permanently
That’s because, according to Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian, Chelsea have told the Irons that they would like to sell the 27-year-old on a permanent basis.
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The Blues paid almost £40million to sign Disasi from Monaco and part of their recruitment model relies on player trading on a seemingly constant basis.
Steinberg adds that while West Ham have considered a loan move for the 5-cap France international, he is not the only option on their radar.
Given their dreadful defensive record this season, West Ham have been linked with several centre-backs, but it remains to be seen if they can get one in before the window shuts.
Who would West Ham have to sign now for it to be as big of a shock as when we signed Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano? 😂
Please let us know how you felt about it at the time too! 👇
West Ham football Club manager Alan Pardew with Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano
Photo credit should read SHAUN CURRY/AFP via Getty Images
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Why signing Axel Disasi would be a major mistake for West Ham United
West Ham desperately need players to hit the ground running, there’s little doubt about that.
While not to write Disasi off as a player, signing him in this situation would be quite the gamble.
Axel Disasi during FC Astana v Chelsea FC - UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD5
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Indeed, Disasi hasn’t played senior football for eight months, after he was relegated into the so-called ‘bomb squad’ at Chelsea following his return from a loan spell at Aston Villa at the end of last season.
To throw him straight back into the deep end in a West Ham side battling against the drop would feel incredibly unwise.
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