West Ham United’s deadline day move for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is on the brink of collapse over a big issue.
That’s according to leading Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, who has provided the very latest on talks between the Hammers, Chelsea and Axel Disasi himself.
West Ham suffered another horrific collapse when they threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Chelsea on Saturday.
Now the Hammers could be about to suffer yet another damaging collapse involving the Blues.
Hammers News revealed earlier on deadline day that a West Ham star had helped seal a deal for Chelsea outcast Disasi.
On-off Disasi move to West Ham hit by late twist
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been pushing to bring France international Disasi to the London Stadium, despite his lack of game time having not featured for Chelsea since last season.
The Irons were forced to go after the likes of Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Natan of Real Betis when the Disasi deal hit problems over the weekend.
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A graphic showing Axel Disasi being set for a medical at West Ham ahead of a loan move from Chelsea.
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It emerged that Chelsea preferred a permanent sale and the player himself wanted to join rival suitors AC Milan instead.
But fresh talks looked set to get the Disasi deal done on deadline day.
Axel Disasi playing for Chelsea against Shamrock Rovers.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Especially when it emerged the 27-year-old centre-back was undergoing a medical to complete a loan move for the rest of the season with West Ham paying Chelsea a £1.5m dee, according to RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins.
Disasi is used to playing in claret and blue after joining Aston Villa on loan last season after being frozen out by then Blues boss Enzo Maresca.
Disasi would join forces with compatriots Jean-Clair Todibo, Alphonse Areola and Mohamadou Kante if he did join the Hammers.
But this is West Ham and things are never that straightforward.
Why Disasi move from Chelsea to West Ham is on ‘brink of collapse’
Now the Disasi move from Chelsea to West Ham on brink of collapse over a big issue.
Sky Sports has reported that Disasi has passed his medical to join the Hammers.
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But there have been last minute issues which mean a late deal sheet will be needed to push it through.
According to Solhekol, who counts West Ham chief David Sullivan among his contacts, Disasi has been making demands which could lead to the deal collapsing at the 11th hour.
Stationed outside Stamford Bridge, Solhekol has revealed his sources have told him ‘player demands’ threaten to scupper the deal.
Solhekol: Disasi demands could scupper West Ham move at 11th hour
“An update on Axel Disasi, and I’m getting the feeling that this deal, for him to join West Ham, really is in the balance at the moment,” Solhekol said on Sky Sports News at 6.35pm.
“I’m being told that he’s passed his medical but the deal could collapse because of player demands.
“Now I think we’ve been down this road with Axel Disasi before, in the past few windows there were deals on the table for him to move to Spurs and Bournemouth on loan, last minute they didn’t happen because, I was told, because of player demands.
“Now something similar could be happening.”
West Ham fans will likely turn the blame on the club’s owners for leaving it so late in the window to address the team’s single biggest weakness – the defence.
The Hammers have the worst defence in the Premier League, shipping two goals per game on average.
All eyes now will be on whether a late deal sheet is submitted by West Ham, if they can get over the hurdle of Disasi’s reported demands.
What those demands are have not been addressed but it is likely to be guarantees over a starting spot when Todibo returns from a three-game ban for his sending off at Chelsea on Saturday night.
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