Disasi Snub Leaves West Ham Scrambling for Defensive Solution

By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

With Axel Disasi close to completing a move from Chelsea to a Premier League club, West Ham will have to cast their attentions elsewhere in the search for a central defender.

Much like in the winter transfer window, head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has spent most of the summer waiting for Disasi to decide he really did want to join the Hammers.

Indeed, only a few weeks ago Disasi remained very much Nuno’s top defensive transfer choice, despite the Frenchman appearing reluctant to drop into the Championship.

As a result, other central defensive targets have been placed on the back burner, leaving West Ham having to make up ground very quickly to find a replacement for the Frenchman, who left following his loan stint at the end of last season.

Nuno’s Disasi gamble hasn’t paid off

I wouldn’t so much say it was a case of all our eggs being in one basket with Nils Koppen’s recruitment strategy in this window, but that has certainly been the case with Nuno and Disasi.

The warning signs were there earlier in the summer when West Ham’s pursuit of Disasi was identified as one of the club’s biggest transfer challenges, with the defender seemingly prepared to wait for Premier League interest.

Nuno clearly believed patience would eventually pay off, just as it did in January when Disasi initially rejected West Ham before finally arriving on deadline day.

This time, however, it appears the gamble has backfired.

Disasi was integral to West Ham’s defensive improvement last season, and replacing him will become even more important should further defenders leave the club.

West Ham exit door could get very busy

In the video below, I discuss the ramifications of the Disasi snub and what it means for Nuno’s defensive plans.

We’ll also take a look at reports this morning that both Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf could be heading for the very busy exit door later this week.

Wan-Bissaka has been linked with a move away from West Ham throughout the summer, while Diouf’s future has become an increasingly significant issue.

Nuno’s position on the Senegalese defender was certainly clear earlier in the window. Claret & Hugh were told directly that the head coach wanted to keep Diouf and wasn’t looking for another left-back.

Clearly, the situation surrounding the 21-year-old has moved on considerably since then.

Losing either full-back would create another position requiring immediate attention. Losing both, having already missed out on Disasi, would leave West Ham facing a significant defensive rebuild when the Championship season is already under way.

Nuno waited a long time for Disasi.

Now West Ham may have to move considerably faster to replace him.