Maresca sanctions €45m exit as Chelsea clearout continues

Cameron Smith

• 22 Aug 2024 02:45 CDT
• 4 min read

Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is not in Enzo Maresca’s long-term plans and the Frenchman now faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.

Disasi joined the Blues from AS Monaco for €45 million last summer and he made 44 appearances in all competitions during his debut season at the club.

However, the 26-year-old could be set to depart after just 12 months in west London.

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According to The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, Disasi is not in Maresca’s long-term plans and he could be sold this summer amid interest from Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s side are actively pursuing a new centre-back and are now looking at alternatives to Marc Guehi due to Crystal Palace’s insane asking price for the England international.

Newcastle have expressed their interest in Disasi, as per David Ornstein, and could look to pounce amid uncertainty around his place in Chelsea’s first-team.

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Maresca currently views Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana as his strongest centre-back pairing, and summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo is considered to be third in line.

Meanwhile, there are concerns over whether Benoit Badiashile will be given a prominent role this campaign, and Disasi appears to be unfancied by Chelsea’s new head coach.

The Frenchman, who has five senior caps for his nation, missed almost the entirety of pre-season due to surgery on a hernia issue and he could leave Chelsea as part of the club’s summer clearout.

Chelsea’s summer clearout

Chelsea have signed 10 new players so far this summer, and despite interest in another striker and a centre-back, the majority of their remaining business is expected to be outgoings.

Maresca recently admitted that around 20 players are currently training away from the first-team, with Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell among those to have been frozen out by the Italian.

Sterling is eager to remain in the Premier League, according to reports, while Manchester United have expressed tentative interest in Chilwell.

In addition, Romelu Lukaku, Trevoh Chalobah, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja, Angelo Gabriel and Djordje Petrovic are all expected to depart before the window closes.