Oliver Glasner begins the Premier League season at Chelsea.placeholder image
Oliver Glasner begins the Premier League season at Chelsea. | Getty Images
Chelsea have transfer listed a ‘brilliant’ defender who could be a useful acquisition for Crystal Palace.
The Eagles have added two major pieces of silverware to their trophy cabinet in 2025, with that triumph over Liverpool following the FA Cup victory against Manchester City in May. A season of European football awaits, but there are still some major questions to be answered.
Eberechi Eze has been the star man for the Eagles in recent seasons but is now not expected to feature for Crystal Palace against Chelsea amid reports of an imminent transfer to work with Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur. That would be a significant blow for Glasner and leave a void that needs filling.
Crystal Palace slow in summer transfer business
Crystal Palace have only signed Borna Sosa and Walter Benitez this summer. Even without key players leaving, that’s not the type of window needed ahead of a leap into the demands of European football.
Another player who could be headed out of Selhurst Park is Marc Guehi. The England international has been the centre of transfer rumours over recent windows but is now in the final 12 months of his contract. If the club don’t sell him now, he can leave for free next year.
Given that Glasner likes to play with three centre-backs, Guehi must be replaced immediately if he is to leave. Crystal Palace could use their visit to Chelsea this weekend to court a potential signing who could do that.
Eagles should court ‘brilliant’ Chelsea defender
Axel Disasi has been transfer listed by Chelsea and is not part of Enzo Maresca’s first team plans. The 27-year-old spent the back end of last season on loan at Aston Villa.
While the Frenchman does not have the same reputation for reliability as Guehi, he boasts Premier League experience and, perhaps importantly, holds a Uefa Conference League medal thanks to the Blues’ triumph last season.
Also a World Cup runner-up, Disasi has made 44 Premier League appearances and 130 Ligue 1 appearances. He’s proven in Europe’s top divisions and is available for a move.
Disasi arrived at Stamford Bridge from Monaco for £38.5 million in 2023. After a huge performance against Manchester City last year, Jamie Carragher heaped praise on Disasi. He said: "I can't remember a better defensive performance this season from a central defender. You're coming away to Manchester City and playing against the best striker in the world. He was brilliant, man of the match, definitely the best player on the pitch.
"That was the type of performance you'd see from defenders 15 or 20 years ago, it was a throwback with backs against the wall and throwing himself against everything. Talking about Chelsea, that was a John Terry type performance and I can't give any more praise than that."
Having not featured in the Club World Cup or in pre-season, it appears unlikely that Disasi will be in the Chelsea squad tomorrow. However, should he or representatives be around the ground, Crystal Palace chiefs could look to start a conversation.
In other news, Chelsea 'willing' to pay £51.7m to grant Enzo Maresca transfer wish as price named for forward.
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