Exclusive: Aston Villa Plot Move to Re-Sign Chelsea Outcast Axel Disasi in January

Aston Villa are poised to resurrect their interest in Axel Disasi during the January transfer window, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

The centre-half has been placed in Chelsea’s ‘Bomb Squad’, a collection of players who have been told they have no future at Stamford Bridge, following Enzo Maresca’s decision to streamline the World Club champions’ staff.

Disasi finished last term on loan with Unai Emery’s team, after falling down the pecking order in west London less than two years after arriving from Monaco.

With Tyrone Mings struggling with injuries, he was forced off during last month’s win over Fulham, Villa are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements and, given Chelsea’s desire to also cut their wage bill, and are understood to be confident that a deal can be struck to sign Disasi on a permanent basis should he continue to be surplus to Maresca’s requirements.

Chelsea Outcast

Aged 27 and capped five times by France, the former Paris FC and Reims star has not featured for Chelsea since just after Christmas. 

But he made 10 appearances under Emery after agreeing a temporary switch to the Midlands, helping Villa secure European qualification during his stay there last term. 

Crucially, with Emery’s employers battling to comply with new financial regulations introduced by both the Premier League and UEFA, Disasi is likely to be available for a fraction of the £38.5m it cost to bring him to England. 

Chelsea have attempted to play hardball with suitors for his fellow outcast Raheem Sterling. 

However, given the pressures on their own budget, sources within the game believe they are unlikely to adopt an equally intransigent approach towards Disasi’s future. And that has alerted Villa to the possibility of re-entering the race for his services.

Despite his lack of opportunities under Maresca, Disasi’s pedigree is not in doubt. He scored against Liverpool on his Chelsea debut and later made 18 clearances during a man-of-the-match display against Manchester City.