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Another Chelsea star to be axed?! Axel Disasi 'not in Enzo Maresca's long-term plans' as ruthless squad overhaul continues

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  • Disasi was signed from AS Monaco last summer
  • The defender has failed to impress
  • Could be offloaded to free up squad space
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    According to The Guardian, despite being only a year into his Chelsea career after his £38.5 million ($50.41m) move from Monaco, Disasi's time in London could be cut short due to his failure to meet expectations on the pitch. The French centre-back has struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, which has led to speculation about his potential departure.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Chelsea's current squad boasts six senior central defenders, creating intense competition for starting positions. While Trevoh Chalobah has already been placed on the transfer list, Disasi also finds himself in a precarious position and the defender's lack of composure on the ball has further weakened his position.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Adding to Disasi's woes, a hernia operation during the summer forced him to miss much of Chelsea's pre-season preparations. He was also omitted from the matchday squad for Chelsea's 2024-25 Premier League opener against Manchester City which further underscores the uncertainty surrounding his role at the club moving forward.

    Despite his struggles at Chelsea, Disasi has attracted interest from other Premier League clubs, most notably Newcastle United. The Magpies' priority is to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace but, negotiations have hit a stumbling block, as the Eagles have rejected Newcastle's latest bid of £60 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, forcing them to look at alternatives.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR DISASI?

    As Chelsea prepare for their upcoming Europa Conference League play-off against Servette, Disasi's immediate future remains uncertain. It is not yet clear when the defender will be deemed fit to return to action, but he is expected to miss the first leg of the tie.