Palace make play for Chelsea ‘monster’ as Sage targets London steel at the back
Pierre Sage hasn’t even finished arranging the pens on his desk, yet the brief at Selhurst Park is blindingly obvious: keep the upward curve going and give this squad a harder edge. After a trophy-studded run under Oliver Glasner and his summer departure to Nottingham Forest, Palace have kept things measured in the market — but that might be about to change in a big way at centre-half.
The target: Disasi on the radar
TEAMtalk report that Crystal Palace are pushing to bring in Chelsea’s Axel Disasi — the French centre-back many around the game label a ‘monster’ in the duels — and crucially, the player is understood to prefer staying in London if he moves before the deadline. Palace are said to be weighing up both a permanent transfer and a loan, keeping their powder dry until the numbers and circumstances stack up.
Acheampong the domino
There’s a twist to this one. Palace also want Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong on loan, but the Blues have yet to decide whether he sticks with Xabi Alonso’s senior group or heads out for minutes. That call could shape how open Chelsea are to letting Disasi go — and on what terms.
Backline refresh under Sage
It’s not the only defensive business in the works. Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to earn a permanent deal after training with the club since his Ajax release this summer, giving Sage a versatile option across the back. Right-back Oscar Mingueza has already arrived on a free from Celta Vigo, while Maxence Lacroix has been sold to Chelsea for a reported £52m — a fee that helps, but also leaves a sizeable leadership gap to fill after Marc Guehi’s January exit.
Why Disasi fits the brief
On profile alone, Disasi looks tailor‑made for Sage’s blueprint. According to reports, he featured regularly for West Ham on loan in the second half of last season and drew praise for his front‑foot defending and aerial dominance, adding to top‑flight experience with Chelsea. The upshot? A no‑nonsense organiser who relishes the fight — exactly the sort of presence to anchor a higher line and attack set pieces at both ends.
Sage’s Lens side last term were built on controlled aggression and clarity with the ball. Drop a defender like Disasi into that mix and suddenly Palace can squeeze the pitch, win first contacts, and spring into transitions with far more authority. He’s the kind of centre-half who lets the rest of the team breathe.
If Palace land Disasi — loan or permanent — it’s a statement that the Sage era means business. For punters eyeing the outright markets across the best betting sites, a reinforced spine at Selhurst is exactly the sort of quiet summer move that nudges probabilities without the fireworks.
What happens next
Palace have opened conversations and are running the numbers. Chelsea’s stance — both on Acheampong and Disasi — will dictate whether this becomes a sprint finish or a slow burner. Either way, the message from SE25 is loud enough: strengthen the defence now and the rest of Sage’s project starts to sing.
