**West Ham defender El Hadji Malick Diouf says it was “crazy” that Chelsea had frozen out Axel Disasi to his loan move to the London Stadium.**
Diasi has been integral to the Hammers’ revival, and Diouf believes the 27-year-old has contributed massively to the team’s recent results:
“The guy is not a small player! He played for Chelsea, so he knows the league. It was crazy he stayed for such a long time, and he didn’t play, but when he came here, he showed that he’s a machine!”
“I’m really happy for him. He’s a good defender and I think he helped us a lot.”
Disasi has hit the ground running
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After not playing a single senior match for the best part of nine months, not many were expecting the France international to be at the top of his game instantly following his switch across London.
However, since making his first start against Burnley in early February, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have kept three clean sheets in five matches, winning two, drawing two and losing just once.
Their victory last time out against Fulham means they are close to getting out of the bottom three, only sitting below 17th-place Nottingham Forest on goal difference.
Will West Ham sign him on a permanent deal?
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There is no option to buy in the Irons’ agreement with Chelsea, and _The Athletic_‘s Roshane Thomas [**claims**](https://hammersheadlines.com/west-ham-transfer-news-axel-disasi-6/) it was deliberate on the Blues’ part as they believe Disasi will be worth more at the end of the season.
It looks like they will be proven correct on that point, based on the centre-back’s recent displays, but any bid for the player will undoubtedly be dependent on the team staying in the Premier League anyway.
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