Chelsea have allegedly agreed to terms with Monaco centre-back Axel Disasi.
The Blues have been looking for a new center-back after Wesley Fofana’s last injury, which required the Frenchman to undergo surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament condition.
Fofana’s injury will keep him out for an extended amount of time, prompting Mauricio Pochettino to look for replacements despite already having Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, and Levi Colwill.
A reunion with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi had been discussed, but with the Englishman costing £60 million, the Blues appear to have settled for a less expensive option.
Axel Disasi to Chelsea: A done deal?
According to The Athletic, Chelsea, and Disasi have reached an agreement, with the Blues paying €45 million (£38.7 million) for the 25-year-old.
Disasi has previously been connected with Manchester United and Newcastle United, but Chelsea appears to have won the race to get him away from Stade Louis II, where Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu is expected to replace him.
The France international made his senior debut with Reims before joining Monaco in a €13 million (£11.2 million) transfer in 2020, where he soon established himself as a fixture in the backline.
Disasi has 12 goals and four assists in 129 appearances for Monaco in all competitions, helping the club reach the Champions League qualifying rounds twice.
Disasi had his most productive season ever in 2022-23, with six goals and four assists from 49 games, while also captaining Les Monegasques in 10 Ligue 1 games.
While the 6ft 3in Frenchman is primarily a centre-back, he has also been used on the right side of Monaco’s defence, albeit Chelsea possesses Reece James and Malo Gusto to cover that position.
Disasi, a four-cap France international, made his debut for Les Bleus at the 2022 World Cup, coming off the bench for the final minute of extra time in France’s loss to Argentina.
The former Reims man will join Chelsea just a year after his old Monaco teammate Badiashile, and Rennes midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu is also rumoured to be on the verge of a move to West London.
The 19-year-old is poised to make a £23.2 million move to Stamford Bridge, where he will join other newcomers Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Diego Moreira, and Angelo Gabriel.
It remains to be seen how Disasi’s arrival will affect any prospective outgoings, although Malang Sarr, an ex-Monaco loanee, should be allowed to leave, and Chalobah’s future may be jeopardised.
The Blues have already allowed Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Ethan Ampadu leave this summer, with the defensive trio accounting for three of 14 senior players released by Pochettino.
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