Chelsea agree £40m deal to sign Monaco defender Axel Disasi amid competition from Man United and Newcastle

Chelsea have agreed a deal with Monaco to sign centre back Axel Disasi for around £40 million.

Mail Sport first revealed that the Blues were keen on the centre back last week, and they have since seen off rival interest from Manchester United and Newcastle.

Mauricio Pochettino is keen to bring Disasi in as a replacement for first-choice centre back Wesley Fofana, who is expected to be out for some time with an ACL injury.

Disasi didn’t miss a league game for Monaco last season, and has been a regular in the French top flight since winning promotion with Reims in 2018.

The defender moved to the Stade Louis-II for £12m in 2020 and has established himself as a key figure in Adi Hutter’s side, with the manager naming him vice-captain last season.

Chelsea have agreed a deal with Monaco to sign Axel Disasi for £40 million

Mauricio Pochettino is keen to add depth at the back after Wesley Fofana’s ACL injury

He has also begun to break into the France side and was part of the squad that reached the World Cup final in Qatar last year.

If Disasi does join the Blues, he would be the second Monaco defender to make the switch in as many transfer windows after Benoit Badiashile joined in January.

Adi Hutter’s side should be well equipped to cope without Disasi, after they agreed a £17m deal with Southampton to sign defender Mohammed Salisu.

Southampton, who are braced for new offers from Liverpool and West Ham for Romeo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse respectively, saw Salisu’s proposed £15million move to Fulham collapse last week.

However, Monaco have rekindled the interest they showed earlier in the month to sign the 24-year-old, pending a medical this week.

Monaco have also held discussions with Fulham for Tosin Adarabioyo as they prepared for Disasi’s likely departure.

Salisu, who had one year left on contract, was not included in the Southampton squad for their pre-season friendlies against AZ Alkmaar on Saturday or Bournemouth on Tuesday. 

He made his last appearance for Southampton in March and was left out towards the end of the season due to issues with his commitment and application in working back from injury.

Monaco have already prepared for Disasi’s departure by agreeing a deal for Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu