Bournemouth in advanced talks to sign Chelsea outcast Axel Disasi | OneFootball

Bournemouth are in advanced talks with Chelsea to sign French defender Axel Disasi before the transfer deadline.

The 27-year-old centre-back has become a key target for the Cherries as they look to reinforce their defence late in the window.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano claims direct contact has already taken place between the two clubs, with negotiations ongoing over the structure of the deal.

Bournemouth are confident of reaching an agreement, while Chelsea remain open to a sale.

Disasi joined Chelsea from Monaco in 2023 for around £39m and signed a six-year deal, but he has failed to establish himself as a first-choice defender at Stamford Bridge.

He made 29 Premier League starts in his debut season and featured 61 times overall, bagging five goals and two assists.

The Frenchman spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, where he played seven times in the Premier League.

Despite injuries in Chelsea’s backline, including a setback for Levi Colwill, Disasi has not been considered part of manager Enzo Maresca’s plans.

He has prioritised other defensive options, leaving Disasi among the group of players deemed surplus to requirements.

The former Monaco man recently posted training photos on Instagram from Chelsea’s so-called ‘bomb squad,’ a term used to describe players outside the first-team picture.

Bournemouth’s pursuit comes after a summer of changes in their defensive unit.

The Cherries have lost Dean Huijsen and Illya Zabarnyi, while left-back Milos Kerkez has also departed, leaving them short of depth.

Disasi’s experience and physical presence are viewed as crucial assets as Bournemouth look to stabilise their backline.

Chelsea have already sold 16 players this summer, generating close to £270m in revenue, and are aiming for further departures before the transfer deadline.

They are targeting reinforcements in attacking areas, including RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.

The Blues are not expected to move for a new central defender despite Colwill’s injury, with internal solutions likely to be explored instead.

Disasi, who has won five caps for France, is now weighing up the chance to revive his career with regular game time at Bournemouth.

Napoli have also shown interest, but a Premier League move appears more likely at this stage.