Chelsea defender Axel Disasi close to joining West Ham United on loan deal, talks in final stages | OneFootball

Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is close to joining West Ham United on a loan deal, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants to bolster his options at the back and the 27-year-old Frenchman has been on the Hammers’ radar since last summer.

They are now closing in on a move for Disasi, with talks between parties now advanced and in the final stages.

Disasi has been linked to clubs in Serie A, but he will remain in the Premier League and should move to the London Stadium before next Monday’s transfer deadline.

Disasi has not played for Chelsea this season and has largely trained away from the first team.

He will be desperate to prove himself elsewhere and West Ham are ready to give him an opportunity for the second half of the campaign.

They have ended the loan deal of Brighton & Hove Albion defender Igor Julio after he made just four appearances for them.

That has created a space for them to sign another player on loan, and Disasi is expected to fill that spot in the coming days.

West Ham have largely concentrated on strengthening their forward ranks this winter, with Keiber Lamadrid, Adama Traore, Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos joining them this month.

They need quality reinforcements in defence and midfield before the deadline, and getting a deal done for Disasi will come in handy.

West Ham have lost Lucas Paqueta, Guido Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug, Luis Guilherme, Andy Irving and James Ward-Prowse this month, and Nuno needs to replace players in key positions.

Staying up remains the goal for the Hammers, and the quality of signings they make could be crucial to their chances of retaining their Premier League status at the end of the campaign.