Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Axel Disasi, but are being put off by Chelsea’s asking price for the defender.
Chelsea have a large number of players they need to offload this summer, a process that has already begun with Noni Madueke set to join rivals Arsenal for £52million.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has already moved to the Emirates while fellow goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is heading to Bournemouth for £25m.
Disasi is another outcast star with no future at Stamford Bridge, despite only signing from Monaco two years ago in a transfer worth £39m.
A first-team regular under Mauricio Pochettino, he fell out of favour with Enzo Maresca and spent the second-half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.
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The Villans paid over £5m for his services but after just 10 appearances they have opted not to pursue a permanent transfer for the France international.
Disasi still has four years left on his contract but having been left out of the Blues’ Club World Cup squad, it is highly unlikely that he’ll play for the west London club again.
Villarreal are interested in the centre-back, who can also play at right-back, but it is said Disasi’s preference is to stay in the Premier League, handing an advantage to Newcastle.
With a return to the Champions League next season, Eddie Howe is keen to bolster his squad, with Anthony Elanga recently signing from Nottingham Forest and James Trafford expected to join from Burnley.
The Magpies have long been interested in Marc Guehi but with the Crystal Palace captain being eyed up by Liverpool, their attention has turned to Disasi.
Axel Disasi Chelsea stats
Appearances: 61
Goals: 5
Assists: 2
Trophies: Conference League
However, there’s a catch, as L’Equipe report that Chelsea want €30m (£26m) for the 27-year-old, a price tag that is putting off potential buyers.
Meanwhile, Chelsea icon John Obi Mikel believes the club needs to improve its defensive options: ‘I strongly believe that we do need another top centre-back next to Levi Colwill.
‘Tosin Adarabioyo is a good player, but he’s not a Chelsea standard defender. Benoit Badiashile the same thing.
‘We need to bring another top centre-back like the likes of [William] Saliba or Gabriel [Magalhaes].’
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