Crystal Palace Closing in on Axel Disasi Loan Move

Crystal Palace are closing in on a move for Axel Disasi, with the Chelsea defender set to undergo a medical on Friday ahead of a season-long loan.

The Frenchman, part of the so-called “bomb squad” at Stamford Bridge, rebuilt his reputation during an impressive spell at West Ham in the second half of last season. The Hammers went down, but Disasi’s stock went up. His form in a struggling side attracted plenty of interest across the summer.

West Ham pushed to keep him, exploring a permanent deal as they looked to anchor their defence around him in the Championship. Instead, they are poised to lose out to their London rivals, with Palace moving decisively as they prepare for their first campaign under new manager Pierre Sage.

Palace’s need at centre-back is obvious. Earlier in the window they sold Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea in a £52million deal, cashing in but leaving a sizeable hole in the heart of their back line. Disasi, with his Premier League experience and physical profile, is being lined up to fill it.

Manager's Comments

Sage did little to hide his desire for a defender when he faced questions on Thursday.

“Yes. We need a player in this department, a player with a lot of games, if possible, in the Premier League,” he said when asked if a centre-back was a priority before the window shuts. “We need players, but we need a leader and that's why we need to wait a little bit to find a good one.”

Pressed specifically on Disasi, Sage was more guarded: “He's a player from Chelsea.”

If Palace get this over the line, that description will not apply for much longer.