Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Burnley - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 30, 2024 Chelsea's Axel Disasi reacts after his goal is disallowed after a VAR review REUTERS/Isabel Infantes NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS.
Newcastle United are in the market for a centre-back this summer and have been linked with several options over recent weeks.
The Magpies are gearing up for their Champions League campaign and are already back in the full swing of pre-season training.
So far, Eddie Howe has made only one addition to his first-team squad, with former Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga joining the ranks to bolster the attacking threat.
It is widely reported that the Newcastle boss is also keen to add a striker, goalkeeper and centre-back before the summer transfer window closes.
Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford has been consistently linked with a move to Tyneside, while Marc Guehi and Giorgio Scalvini continue to be touted as defensive targets.
Last week, Newcastle were reported to have reignited their interest in Chelsea’s forgotten man, Axel Disasi, a player who had previously been linked with the Geordies before signing for the Club World Cup champions.
Now, L’Equipe reports that Chelsea have set an asking price for the defender, as he has fallen out of favour under Enzo Maresca.
The French news outlet claims Chelsea have placed a €30m (£26m) price tag on Disasi, a fee Newcastle are hesitant to agree to, which is stalling a formal approach.
It is further claimed that Villarreal are among the clubs interested in securing Disasi’s services; however, the 27-year-old is thought to prefer remaining in the Premier League.
Should Newcastle sign Axel Disasi?
There is no doubt that Newcastle require defensive reinforcements this summer, but finding the right player has clearly not been easy.
Fabian Schär recently signed a 12-month extension to his stay on Tyneside, but at 33 years old, he does not represent the long-term future of the right side of the centre-back partnership.
Dan Burn has been a stalwart for the Magpies too, but again, at 33, the 6ft 7in titan is approaching the latter stages of his career.
As a result, with the amount of football ahead of Howe and his squad this season, it will be imperative to add depth to the back line in the remaining weeks of the window.
Given his struggles at Chelsea, Disasi may not be a top choice among the St James’ Park faithful, especially with the likes of Guehi and Scalvini also in the frame.
The Frenchman – once hailed as “brilliant” by ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher – has not enjoyed much game time over the past 12 months, registering just 10 appearances during his half-season loan at Aston Villa.
It would take significant work and development to bring him up to the elite level Newcastle aspire to achieve across all competitions next season.
While Disasi would add depth in numbers, a ready-made defender seems a more attractive prospect for the club.
That said, it will be interesting to see whether Howe decides to take a chance on Disasi, offering him time to get up to speed during the remainder of Schär’s contract.
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