Axel Disasi
Axel Disasi
West Ham United look set to watch Axel Disasi join another London club just months after he transformed Nuno Espirito Santo's defence.
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The Frenchman returned to Chelsea following his hugely successful loan spell at London Stadium last season and has been linked with a return ever since.
But Crystal Palace now appear to have won the race.
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According to talkSPORT, Disasi is on the verge of joining Palace on loan after Chelsea agreed to let the 28-year-old leave Stamford Bridge again.
It's a frustrating conclusion to a transfer many West Ham fans were hoping would have a happy ending.
Especially after seeing first-hand just how much of a difference he made last season.
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Disasi arrived at West Ham in February having barely played any football for almost a year.
It would've been understandable if he needed weeks to get back up to speed.
The France international went straight into Nuno's side and immediately helped West Ham become far more difficult to beat.
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After his first eight appearances, the Hammers had already kept four clean sheets, while Disasi himself admitted the support he received from West Ham fans helped him perform.
Nuno was impressed, too.
Speaking about the defender in March, the West Ham boss said: "He really integrates himself really, really good in terms of the squad."
He added: "Individually and the connection in the back line is helping a lot, so credit for him."
That connection became particularly obvious alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos.
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West Ham lost just two of the 11 Premier League matches the pair started together, with Mavropanos later admitting they quickly developed an understanding and trust in each other.
That's exactly the kind of partnership West Ham need this season.
It wasn't only Nuno who recognised his impact.
El Hadji Malick Diouf was also impressed. The left-back described Disasi as a "machine" during his loan spell, with West Ham conceding just once in four of the Frenchman's first five Premier League starts outside of the 5-2 defeat at Liverpool.
Disasi also made it clear how much he enjoyed being at the club.
"I feel that I'm in the right place," he said just weeks after arriving.
Later in the season, he explained: "It's just nice to be part of something."
He even admitted that the affection he received from supporters had helped him rediscover his best form after being frozen out at Chelsea.
West Ham gave Disasi the opportunity to play again and he responded by becoming one of Nuno's most important defenders.
That's why watching him potentially end up at Palace feels like such a missed opportunity.
The timing makes even less sense when you look at West Ham's current defensive situation.
Jean-Clair Todibo has already agreed terms with Marseille over a potential return to France.
Nuno has Max Kilman and Mavropanos available, while Joel Veltman provides experienced cover and young Airidas Golambeckis is expected to get opportunities.
But we've already seen the same defensive problems return.
West Ham surrendered a two-goal lead at Burnley on the opening day of the Championship season, eventually drawing 2-2.
That came after throwing away 20 points from winning positions during last season's relegation campaign.
So surely adding another proven centre-back should still be a priority, and there can't be many safer options than somebody Nuno already knows works in his system.
There main problem is that Palace can offer Disasi Premier League and European football.
That may ultimately be enough to decide it.
But the reported structure of Palace's move should at least make West Ham ask the question.
The latest reports suggest Chelsea and Palace have agreed a paid loan without an option to buy.
If Chelsea are genuinely willing to sanction another temporary move, West Ham should be making absolutely sure there is no way of bringing him back to London Stadium.
Disasi himself spoke openly about feeling wanted and loved at the club and no doubt he'll have that feeling again if he were to return.
West Ham now need to build a defence capable of surviving a brutal 46-game Championship campaign and delivering promotion at the first attempt.
A player Nuno already trusts, who has been called a "machine" by one of his teammates and who helped transform the backline last season, is about to join Crystal Palace on loan.
If there's even the slightest possibility of changing that, West Ham should be trying.
Do you think we have a chance of hijacking Palace's deal for Disasi? If we do miss out on him, who would you prefer to see signed? Have your say in the comments below for the chance to WIN a new West Ham shirt...