Aston Villa ROCKED as priority transfer blocked at the last minute

Robin Bairner
Robin Bairner
  • 31 Jan 2025 13:00 GMT
  • 3 min read
Axel Disasi, Unai Emery, Aston Villa, Chelsea, 2024/25
© IMAGO

Aston Villa may need to make a quick change of plans before Deadline Day as a transfer described as a “priority” for manager Unai Emery has suddenly found itself in doubt.

Article continues under the video

Villa are one of the main protagonists of the window as it draws to an end, with Jhon Duran set to leave Birmingham to join Al-Nassr for €77 million with a replacement yet to be found.

FABRIZIO ROMANO TRANSFER UPDATE: NEW Tel bid, CRAZY Arsenal offer, Dorgu DELAY

But one deal that the Villans urgently need to conclude is for a new centre-back to replace Diego Carlos, who left for Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

Emery seemed on course to land Axel Disasi from Chelsea, but it appears that the Blues board are ready to put the brakes on negotiations, despite the Stamford Bridge side having promised the France international centre-back that they would find a loan deal for him this month.

READ MORE: Premier League January transfers 2025: All the Done Deals

Current ETV
Player image Axel Disasi
Axel Disasi

D (CR)

Chelsea logo

Chelsea

Axel Disasi
Axel Disasi

D (CR)

Chelsea

Chelsea

€20.9M

ETV Range

€15.7M - €26.2M

Chelsea blocking promised Disasi move

Disasi had already agreed to join Aston Villa, but now Chelsea are stalling the deal.

“Talks with the Londoners are not progressing,” the French source reports.

Negotiations have been extensive between the teams.

Football transfer news reporter Fabrizio Romano revealed that the teams were locked in talks throughout Tuesday.

Axel Disasi: Stuck at Chelsea?
© IMAGO - Axel Disasi: Stuck at Chelsea?

“Aston Villa and Chelsea have spent the day speaking. Axel Disasi has already said yes to Aston Villa and has spoken to Unai Emery, but let’s see if they can get an agreement with Chelsea,” Romano told his YouTube channel.

It appears that these talks have now ended in failure, with no agreement reached over Disasi.

Aston Villa are now faced with the prospect of going into the final days of the transfer window seeking another option at the back.

A deal with Sevilla over Loic Bade has collapsed and with a deal for Disasi now on the rocks, Emery’s side will have to make it third time lucky if they are to get a deal over the line.

Never miss the next big transfer!

Get the latest transfer insights and analyses directly in your mailbox.