France's head coach Didier Deschamps, France's forward Kylian Mbappe and France's defender Axel Disasi react during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on June 13, 2023, as part of the team's preparations for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 football tournament qualifying matches. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
France's head coach Didier Deschamps, France's forward Kylian Mbappe and France's defender Axel Disasi react during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on June 13, 2023, as part of the team's preparations for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 football tournament qualifying matches. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool are short in defence and a short-term loan for the Chelsea defender could be the solution.
Arne Slot has suggested there will be no knee-jerk reaction. Despite Liverpool losing their latest defensive option, with Jeremie Frimpong being forced off in the 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag, nothing will change.
It is a stance that fans aplenty will disagree with. Some vehemently. Even if Frimpong is set to be absent for only a few weeks, it will be the third time he's spent a period on the treatment table since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen. When Frimpong does return, his fitness will have to be managed carefully.
Slot suggested that any business in January would have to be prudent in the short and long term for Liverpool. That has been owners Fenway Sports Group's philosophy for several years. But they have shown previously that they are willing to relax their preferred model if needs must.
The Reds do not have a defensive crisis as they found themselves in during the 2020-21 season, which was the last time they defended the Premier League title. Long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Gomez left former manager Jurgen Klopp without any senior centre-backs. As a result, the transfer market was utilised to sign Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies from Schalke and Preston North End respectively.
Granted, both scarcely played for Liverpool, with Klopp turning to academy products Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams to secure Champions League qualification. But it still underlined that FSG are willing to do deals.
Securing Champions League football next season is imperative. Liverpool can ill-afford to lose out on playing in the most lucrative club tournament in the world. It would impact the Reds' revenue markedly, in terms of prize money from the Champions League and commercial deals brokered. A short-term fix could help achieve their chief goal.
Liverpool’s recruitment team have likely explored the market to see if there are any players available. They are interested in Jeremy Jacquet but Rennes are not willing to agree a sale midway through the season.
In truth, the majority of players on the move during January are surplus to requirements at their current club. Still, that does not necessarily mean that they are below standards or could not do a job for Liverpool in their predicament.
Certainly, West Ham United feel that Axel Disasi could bolster their chances of avoiding Premier League relegation. The 27-year-old has found himself in the wilderness at Chelsea, despite being signed for £38.5 million in August 2023.
Disasi was a regular starter in his maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge, making 44 appearances and scoring three goals. After a 1-1 draw at Manchester City, Jamie Carragher compared Disasi's man-of-the-match performance to a display akin to Chelsea legend John Terry.
“I can’t remember a better defensive performance this season, certainly from a central defender,” said the former Liverpool vice-captain. “Coming away to Manchester City, playing against the best striker in the world.v‘He was brilliant. He was the man of the match, I don’t think I said it on air but he was the best player on the pitch. That was the type of performance you’d see from centre-backs from about 15-20 years ago.
‘Now we see them more build up from the back, stepping in, but this was a bit of a throwback. Backs against the wall, throwing yourself in front of things, every time the ball comes in you feel like a magnet to get your head on it. I’m talking about Chelsea, that was a John Terry performance I can’t give any higher praise than that.’
It was perhaps a surprise that Disasi fell down the pecking order at Chelsea in the 2024-25 campaign. He made 12 outings before being loaned to Aston Villa for the second half of the season. At Villa Park, Disasi played 10 times, with Unai Emery's side finishing sixth in the Premier League. Interestingly, he was deployed both centrally and on the right-hand side of defence - a position that Liverpool are severely short.
During the summer, with it clear that Disasi didn't have a future in West London, he attracted interest from West Ham, Sunderland and Bournemouth but moves collapsed. The France international subsequently found himself in the bomb squad at Chelsea, having been banished from first-team training for a lengthy period and he has had to represent the under-21s three times to keep himself ticking over.
Granted, Disasi is lacking regular match minutes. But he is experienced at the very highest level, having played in the Champions League and five times for France during his career. Liverpool might have Calvin Ramsay in their ranks but given Slot’s comments on the Scot recently, it suggests that Ramsay is not ready to play in the Premier League.
As things stand, Reds do not any non-homegrown spots in their Premier League squad available. But to make space, Ramsay could be removed when teams have to update their respective set-ups at the closure of the transfer window.
The only caveat to a potential swoop for Disasi is that Chelsea may not want to do business with a direct rival for Champions League qualification. But they did that last year when allowing the ex-Monaco man to join Villa.
It’s clear that Disasi does not have a future at Stamford Bridge and they will be hoping for a sale at the end of the season. Having Liverpool on his C.V would drive his price up compared to a potential relegation with West Ham. And even though he may not play as much as at the Hammers, representing the Reds could mean that he has more suitors come the summer.
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