West Ham ITK ExWHUEmployee has added further detail to the story broken by Claret & Hugh yesterday morning.
After speaking to a top source at the club, Sean reported that West Ham are leaving the decision to remain at the club in Axel Disasi’s hands. The French defender has been excellent since joining on loan from Chelsea, but there is no option or obligation to buy.
Disasi keen to stay in East London
So the key question has always been whether Disasi would choose to stay if West Ham avoid relegation.
According to Ex: “Axel loves the club and is keen to stay” — a detail that removes at least one potential stumbling block.
That aligns with what a top transfer source told Claret & Hugh two weeks ago:
“Nuno loves Disasi, if he’s here next season he would want to keep the player.”
A whole lotta love — but deal not straightforward
So there’s plenty of willingness on both sides but that doesn’t automatically make a deal easy.
The main issue is the transfer fee Chelsea would demand.
The London club paid Monaco around £38 million for Disasi, although time out of the first team and training with the reserves in the ‘bomb squad’ would have reduced his value.
That said, his strong form at the London Stadium has likely pushed it back up again.
Value comparison raises questions
Whether Chelsea would demand the full original fee remains to be seen, but it’s hard to imagine West Ham getting much change out of £30 million.
And based on the £40 million spent on Max Kilman, Disasi could still represent decent value. . . but then again, anyone looks good value compared to that deal.
Finances will dictate final call
The reality, however, is that West Ham’s financial situation and payday loan style borrowing means every deal will need to be carefully considered.
Even if Premier League survival is secured, the club may not find it easy to make a deal which everyone wants to happen: Don’t forget of course the interest now being shown in Disasi by Champions League contenders Aston Villa – as we reported earlier – which could be real trouble for the Hammers if Unai Emery’s side decide to throw money at buying their their former loanee.
If he’s a Lingard 2.0 does that mean he will play his best football for many a year for his 5 months with us and then sink into obscurity.
I enjoyed Lingard’s spell with us as much as anyone but he’s not a great example to hold up as a missed opportunity.
Hopefully we can afford Disasi but our issue is the mismanagement by Sullivan and Brady over the past few years. Even, in the unlikely event, they’ve learned their lesson it is going to take 2-3 seasons of tight financial control or another Declan Rice to get us back on a sound financial footing
Let’s not forget this is a world cup year, Every professional will want to perform to their best in order to seal a ticket to North America this summer.
I take the news of Unai Emery interested in Axel.with a pinch of salt. It’s merely a rumour to ramp up interest and his transfer value.
He’s straight up a Lingard 2.0.
Another player who couldn’t get anywhere near the first team, we loan him, decide on no clauses/obligation to buy and then, voila- they look a superstar.
Then the parent club see how desperate we are to sign him and he’s suddenly one of their most valuable assets and they’re looking for far beyond his pre-loan market price.
We never learn.