What West Ham United can expect from Axel Disasi should the Chelsea misfit make the move from one London-based outfit to another – alongside his physical prowess and tactical flexibility – is a centre-half who tends to step up on the biggest of occasions.
Ask Chelsea supporters to think back to Disasi’s finest performances for the Stamford Bridge outfit, and they will no doubt go all misty eyed when they remember his defensive masterclass up against Erling Haaland and Manchester City.
A performance so imperious that Jamie Carragher felt it appropriate to draw comparisons between Axel Disasi and John Terry at his peak. West Ham United would not be getting the former Monaco ace at the very top of his game, of course.
On a scale of 1-10, how much does Axel Disasi actually improve West Ham’s defence? 👀
Not to knock him as a player, but he’s hardly played in months!
He has not played a single first-team match all season, having initially fallen out of favour under Enzo Maresca.
Yes, Fabrizio Romano may have gotten a little ahead of himself when he claimed on Thursday night that West Ham were ‘close’ to signing Disasi on loan. Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior insists nothing is imminent as things stand.
But, if a deal can be agreed before Monday’s deadline, they will get a centre-back with a point to prove, a fierce will to play regular football once again, and one who relishes high-pressure situations such as the one facing Nuno Espirito Santo’s relegation-threatened outfit.
West Ham United target Axel Disasi was superb against Erling Haaland for Chelsea
Fittingly, Disasi began his Chelsea career with a debut goal in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool in 2023. Thus, launching his ‘big-game’ reputation.
Erling Haaland, scorer of 11 goals in just seven matches against the Hammers, would fail to get the better of Disasi six months later at the Etihad.
“I can’t remember a better defensive performance this season, certainly from a central defender,” an awe-struck Carragher told Sky Sports; Disasi returning home that day and emptying Haaland from his pockets alongside his car keys.
“Coming away to Manchester City, playing against the best striker in the world, he was brilliant. He was the Man of the Match. That was the type of performance you’d see from centre-backs from about 15-20 years ago.
“Now we see them more build up from the back, stepping in, but this was a bit of a throwback. Backs against the wall, throwing yourself in front of things, every time the ball comes in you feel like a magnet to get your head on it.
“That was a John Terry performance. I can’t give any higher praise than that.”
Disasi would be a welcome change from Max Kilman
West Ham have been crying out for another Craig Dawson-type presence ever since the cult hero centre-back left in 2023. Jean-Clair Todibo, for all his qualities, is statistically one of the worst in the Premier League when it comes to winning aerial duels.
Max Kilman does not fare much better.
So, despite the best efforts of the imposing but error-prone Konstantinos Mavropanos, dealing with crosses and set-pieces has perhaps been the biggest, most consistent problem the Hammers have faced all season.
Disasi at Chelsea – interestingly – ranks in the 98th percentile when it comes to winning aerial duels.
The 6ft 3ins giant emphatically matched Haaland’s raw power in a game where he made 16 clearances. The most from a single player across the entire 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
“Everyone saw when Axel made a clearance in the first half and celebrated it like a goal,” then-Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic said with a grateful smile. “That helped to push everyone and gave everyone motivation.”
From the passive Kilman to the ball-playing Todibo, West Ham have seemingly lacked defenders who actively enjoy defending since the Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna heyday. Disasi, then, would be a welcome, refreshing change.
Fernandes over Palmer? Taty over Delap? Some big calls from our readers!
Have your choices been justified?
Disasi impressed Mauricio Pochettino when Monaco beat Kylian Mbappe’s PSG
Mauricio Pochettino, who coached Chelsea during that 2023/24 campaign, came up against Disasi in his Monaco days.
His record against Kylian Mbappe – varying from the masterful to the lumbering – rather epitomises the pros and cons of signing the Paris-born 27-year-old. And there are cons, of course.
That Disasi is out of favour at Chelsea, despite the inconsistencies of Trevoh Chalobah, Jorrel Hato, Benoit Badiashile and co, does not reflect too well on him.
Pochettino saw Disasi marshall Mbappe beautifully when Monaco beat PSG at the Parc des Princes in 2021, as well as a 3-0 home victory in 2023. In between that, though, Disasi was guilty of gifting Mbappe the ball as the Parisiens beat the Monegasques in a Coupe des France final.
“When we were at Paris Saint-Germain, he played one game against us with Monaco when he was on the [right-hand] side of the defence, playing against Kylian Mbappe,” Pochettino recalled shortly after he crossed the Channel and arrived in West London.
“We saw that he could perform as a right-back, but he’s a centre-back who I think can play on both sides.”
“My size is an advantage. I am comfortable in the air and in my sense of anticipation,” Disasi would explain when asked to describe his own style.
“I also try to play the ball out from the back cleanly, to have fun on the pitch and above all to follow the coach’s instructions. I’m a player who works for the team and I hope to bring my defensive strength to bear.”
Should West Ham manage to sign a defender who has gone from a starter at Chelsea to the forgotten man of Cobham, one can expect lots of soaring headers, the odd lapse in concentration, and the best performances coming against the very best opposition.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
