West Ham United’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Brentford could bring about an intriguing head-to-head between Axel Disasi, the France international signed on loan from Chelsea, and Bees veteran Ethan Pinnock.
Before Disasi arrived at the London Stadium on the final day of the January transfer window, the Hammers reportedly expressed their interest in Pinnock.
While highly experienced and Premier League ‘proven’ – the 32-year-old has played 116 top-flight games for Brentford – this was not a rumour which got hairs standing up on end and West Ham United fans rushing to renew their season tickets.
What would you sacrifice for FA Cup GLORY?
Surely not your Premier League status…
The similarities between Pinnock and Craig Dawson were obvious; the latter became a fan favourite in claret and blue while proving that age really is just a number. But for those who wanted to see the board show a dash of ambition with their top-flight status on the line, Axel Disasi was clearly a much more palatable addition.
West Ham United looked at Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock
OK, he had not played a first-team minute for Chelsea all season after falling out of favour at Stamford Bridge.
But this is a five-time France international with Champions League expertise we are talking about. At his very best, Disasi has helped shackle Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. What’s more, putting concerns over a lack of match sharpness to bed, Disasi has not missed a minute of his first five league outings in a West Ham shirt.
Pinnock, in the same timeframe, has not featured even once.
The Jamaica veteran has actually played fewer Premier League minutes in 2025/26 than Disasi, despite the fact the latter only escaped the Chelsea bomb squad in early-February.
Pinnock has, though, been an ever-present in the FA Cup so far, helping Brentford see off Sheffield Wednesday and Macclesfield Town while not conceding a goal. As such, while Nuno may consider resting Disasi in round five, Pinnock feels like an almost nailed-on starter at the London Stadium.
The Hammers struck gold with Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi
Who do YOU want to see start v Brentford in the FA Cup? 🏆
Nuno is expected to ring the changes…
For all the criticism that has come the way of West Ham’s board and their recruitment department – some of it very much justified – by hook, by crook, or through some bare-faced luck, leaving it until the last day of the window to finally sign a centre-half may yet pay off very handsomely.
Of course, it would have been handy to have Disasi available for those defeats by Wolves and Nottingham Forest. Defeats which may still cost the Hammers dear.
But by keeping Pinnock on ice, West Ham would end up landing themselves a younger, faster, better centre-half in the end.
In fact, the stats show that, of all this season’s winter transfers, Disasi and Taty Castellanos rank in the top five in terms of points-per-game. Only Rayan of Bournemouth, plus Man City duo Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, average greater returns for their new clubs.
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