Crystal Palace close to loan for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi | OneFootball

Crystal Palace are close to signing Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on loan, with no option or obligation to buy.

According to The Athletic, Palace have tracked Disasi and Chelsea set a £25m asking price as they streamlined their centre-back group this season.

Manager Pierre Sage has highlighted the need for defensive reinforcements. The clubs have already done business, with Maxence Lacroix joining Chelsea for £52m.

Chelsea's reshuffle includes Benoit Badiashile close to Napoli, Trevoh Chalobah joining Como, Mamadou Sarr earmarked for a loan, and a final decision pending on Aaron Anselmino.

Disasi spent the second half of last season at West Ham, starting all 14 Premier League matches he was available for.

He returned to Chelsea this summer but did not travel on the pre-season tour to Australia and Hong Kong, and his former number two went to new signing Marco Palestra.

The France international arrived from Monaco in 2023 for £38.5m on a deal running to 2029, making 44 appearances in his debut campaign.

Sage intends to play a higher line, and while Disasi may not be the ideal fit for recovery pace, he would add leadership the defence has lacked.

A straight loan would give Palace time to plan a permanent solution next summer and allocate funds to other areas.

They will hope he maintains his West Ham form as they build depth for the Premier League and Europa League.

Source: NY Times

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