Lyon have opened negotiations to sign Axel Disasi from Chelsea in the January transfer window, according to reports in France.
Disasi faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge after failing to play a single minute for Chelsea this term, having effectively been frozen out of the first-team by Enzo Maresca.
The 27-year-old central defender spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, where he made ten appearances in all competitions, and had been keen to secure another temporary move ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
But while Disasi was forced to train away from the rest of Maresca’s first-team and demoted to Chelsea’s so-called ‘bomb squad’, the centre-back remained with the Club World Cup winners as the transfer deadline came and went.
The Blues would be open to the prospect of selling Disasi this winter, but the conditions would have to be right for all parties in order for a permanent transfer to be sanctioned.
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L’Equipe report that Lyon’s management are eyeing a possible deal and have made contact with Disasi’s camp to discuss his availability, with talks in place for ‘several days’.
Lyon are set to lose both of their first-choice centre-backs – Angola’s Clinton Mata and Senegal’s Moussa Niakhate – to the Africa Cup of Nations this month and are in ‘urgent need’ of reinforcements at the heart of their defence.
The Ligue 1 outfit are on the hunt for a centre-half with proven pedigree and experience and one that would be capable of going straight into Paulo Fonseca’s starting XI.
It’s claimed Lyon are exploring the prospect of signing Disasi on loan, but a permanent deal for the France international remains a possible option.
There are also advanced discussions in place for Lyon to capture 19-year-old Real Madrid and Brazil forward Endrick on loan for the second half of the campaign.
Chelsea signed Disasi from Monaco for a fee in the region of £39million in August 2023 and the Frenchman has made 61 appearances in all competitions for the club in that time.
Disasi was a part of Maresca’s squad that won the Europa Conference League title last season. He was also in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI that suffered defeat to Liverpool in the 2024 Carabao Cup final.
His current contract in west London runs through to June 2029.
In September, Maresca admitted he hadn’t seen or heard from either Disasi or Raheem Sterling, who is also still yet to feature for Chelsea this season.
‘They are Chelsea players, but at the moment they are training separately and the plan is to continue in this way,’ the Chelsea boss told reporters.
‘Since the season started, I haven’t seen either of them. I haven’t seen Axel or Raheem.
‘They train at a different time and on a different pitch. I haven’t seen them since the start of the season.’
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