Chelsea have reportedly given the green light for a player to depart, potentially opening the door for Aston Villa to make a move.
Axel Disasi has been left out of Chelsea’s 27-man squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, with the club placing him on the transfer list. The defender, who had a loan stint at Villa Park during the second half of last season, could now be targeted for a permanent switch by Unai Emery.
Villa are understood to be weighing up their defensive options but are unlikely to make any major signings until after the June 30 PSR deadline. While Disasi is an option, Chelsea’s high valuation—evident in their £5 million loan fee—may push Villa to explore alternatives instead of rushing into a deal.
The Midlands club are monitoring several defenders, including Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera and Osasuna’s Enzo Boyomo. There’s also a possibility Villa could revisit their interest in Lutsharel Geertruida, who was close to joining last summer before opting for RB Leipzig. With the Dutchman reportedly unsettled in Germany, a fresh move could be on the cards.
While a permanent move for Disasi remains unlikely, it hasn’t been ruled out. The French international, who cost Chelsea £38 million from Monaco in 2023, struggled for minutes on loan at Villa, averaging a staggering £650,000 per appearance. However, a reduced transfer fee could bring him back to the Midlands.
Disasi, capped five times by France, made 61 appearances for Chelsea but found consistent form hard to come by. At Monaco, he was a standout with 129 matches under his belt, and a return to that level might be what he seeks in his next destination.
Villa Planning Wider Squad Additions
In addition to strengthening at centre-back, Villa are keen to add players in multiple areas including striker, left wing, central midfield, right-back, and goalkeeper. Real Betis youngster Jesus Rodriguez is being lined up to bolster the wing, while Lille’s Lucas Chevalier and AC Milan’s Mike Maignan are on the radar for goalkeeping reinforcements.
Villa missed out on Norwegian sensation Sverre Nypan, who is heading to Manchester City in a £12 million deal. Emery still hopes to add a central midfielder to compete with Tielemans, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, and Barkley.
Meanwhile, talks are ongoing with Paris Saint-Germain regarding a permanent move for Marco Asensio. With just one year remaining on his PSG contract, Villa hope to negotiate a favorable deal for the Spanish attacker.
