West Ham have been given genuine hope of signing fan favourite defender Axel Disasi by a leading Chelsea source, who claims Daniel Kretinsky has formally lodged a £25m bid.
It is a footballing sin to fall in love with a loan player – but West Ham fans could not help themselves when it came to Axel Disasi.
Disasi helped transform West Ham’s defence – and turn their season around – with his brilliant performances after joining on a six-month loan from Chelsea in the winter window.
His attitude and the way he passionately celebrated tackles, blocks and clearances like goals endeared the French centre-back to teammates and Hammers fans alike.
Top source says £25m West Ham deal for Disasi ‘all but agreed’
Disasi’s performances and leadership were all the more impressive considering he had not played a competitive game for Chelsea for nearly a year before moving to east London.
As part of Chelsea’s so-called “bomb squad” of players surplus to requirements, West Ham were confident of signing Disasi on a permanent basis had they secured Premier League survival.
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West Ham’s board pledged to keep five key players including Disasi if they stayed up.
But relegation on the final day, despite a 3-0 win over Leeds, seemed to put paid to the Hammers’ hopes of landing the Blues star, who revealed on joining that his aunt – who lives in east London – is a huge West Ham fan.
Think again, though.
Because a top Chelsea source has given West Ham genuine hope Disasi could still join them in the Championship after Daniel Kretinsky lodged a £25m bid.
Chelsea insider and reporter Simon Phillips is one of the leading sources for news coming out of Stamford Bridge and Cobham.
Phillips has revealed that West Ham have remained in contact with Disasi over a permanent move to the club and even goes as far as to state a £25m deal is all but agreed with Chelsea.
Disasi has not turned down West Ham after talks
He reports that the Hammers are trying to convince the 28-year-old to drop down to the Championship after his excellent loan spell.
“And it’s worth noting he is yet to turn them away,” Phillips stated regarding Disasi’s own thinking on the matter.
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It has been reported elsewhere that there is plenty of interest in Disasi, likely from top flight clubs across Europe.
But West Ham will be hoping the fact they gave the former France international the chance to resurrect his career may give them a chance.
Especially if Disasi can see the club’s ambition to bounce straight back to the Premier League and stay there.
Chelsea need to offload players after amassing record losses surpassing £300m and failing to secure European football.
This would be a serious coup for the Hammers if they can pull it off.
It will be a major statement of intent from the new-look board to the fans, the rest of the squad and indeed West Ham’s Championship rivals.
Disasi could be West Ham’s answer to Kevin Nolan, who famously gave up Premier League football to drop down to the second tier and help the Irons back up.
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