90min

Chelsea's £38.5m signing snubbed by Juventus as Villarreal linked

  • Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi has played just five Premier League games this season
  • Frenchman signed six-year contract when joining in August 2023 from Monaco
  • 26-year-old linked with Stamford Bridge exit with future minutes unlikely

By Toby Cudworth

Axel Disasi seemingly has no future at Chelsea
Axel Disasi seemingly has no future at Chelsea / Robin Jones/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit

Chelsea defender Axel Disasi isn't being considered by Serie A giants Juventus, it has been claimed, but is on the shopping list of Villarreal.

The 26-year-old joined Chelsea from Monaco in August 2023 for a reported fee of €45m (£38.5m), penning a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Disasi played 44 times in all competitions last season under then-head coach Mauricio Pochettino, but has seen his minutes marginalised under the leadership of Enzo Maresca. The Frenchman has played just five Premier League games to date, instead playing a more prominent role in the club's Conference League group stage fixtures.

French publication L'Equipe say that Disasi, who is a natural centre-back but can also play at right-back, is expected to leave the Blues before the end of the January transfer window, with a loan move already agreed by the player and club.

Juventus were said to be one of the club's considering a move for the five-cap France international, but Italian journalist Matteo Moretto has since reported that Disasi is not the profile of player that the multi-time Scudetto winners are looking for.

Trevoh Chalobah
Trevoh Chalobah's recall has pushed Disasi further down the pecking order / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

Former Europa League winners Villarreal are mentioned as a potential escape route for Disasi, while reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen were linked with a swoop by French media towards the end of last year.

Aston Villa have also been touted as a potential destination for Disasi, with Unai Emery's side willing to facilitate an exit for Fenerbahce-linked Diego Carlos if they are able to bring in an adequate replacement.

Chelsea recently recalled Trevoh Chalobah from a loan spell at Crystal Palace, potentially pushing Disasi further down a pecking order that also features academy graduate Josh Acheampong, after learning that Wesley Fofana could miss the rest of the season through injury.

Benoit Badiashile is also sidelined but Levi Colwill, Chelsea's other main centre-back option, has started every Premier League game under Maresca after a lengthy spell on the transfer shortlist of Liverpool.

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD

feed

Home/Chelsea