Palace plot Disasi loan as Guehi exit looms
Right then, Palace supporters — if you thought the transfer window drama had finished, think again. With skipper Marc Guehi inching closer to the exit and less than a year left on his contract, Selhurst Park are already sniffing around Chelsea’s out-of-favour centre-back Axel Disasi as a January option.
Why Disasi is on Palace’s radar
Reports suggest Crystal Palace view the 27-year-old Frenchman as a ready-made replacement should Guehi be sold when the market reopens. It makes a fair bit of sense on paper: Disasi is experienced in the Premier League, having featured for Aston Villa on loan last season (10 appearances, seven of those in the top flight), and he can slot straight into a back four without too much bedding-in time.
Chelsea’s own summer turmoil — a late-season switch to AS Monaco falling through because of loan quota issues — leaves Disasi sidelined under Enzo Maresca and available when January arrives. The Blues have him valued at around £30m, and Palace are understood to be weighing up a loan deal first rather than a permanent splash.
Guehi’s situation and Palace’s urgency
Don’t forget how close Guehi came to joining Liverpool on deadline day; that move collapsed when Palace couldn’t secure a replacement in time and withdrew from a reported £35m agreement. Now with under a year left on his deal, it is likely Guehi will be sold when the transfer window reopens if a decent fee comes in — and Palace want to avoid being caught short.
They did attempt to bring in another option this summer, targeting a former Brighton defender, but he ended up at West Ham. Palace did strengthen in other areas — snapping up promising centre-back Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse and bringing in Christantus Uche on loan from Getafe, plus additions such as Borna Sosa, Walter Benitez and Yeremy Pino — but losing Guehi would be a big blow.
Does Disasi solve the problem?
As a short-term fix Disasi ticks many boxes: Premier League minutes, physical presence, and the kind of no-nonsense defending Palace fans respect. Yet there are caveats. Chelsea may prefer a permanent sale if they can find suitors — there’s talk of interest from across the globe, including Saudi side Neom FC — and Disasi’s own stock has wavered since his move from Monaco in 2023, for whom he has made 61 appearances for Chelsea.
Ultimately, this feels like pragmatic business by Palace. They’re trying to protect their backline and get value for a player who might walk away for free next summer. Whether Disasi is the perfect fit, or just a solid stopgap, remains to be seen — but if you like transfer speculation as much as football, keep an eye on January. For a flavour of the market and odds, check betting sites.
Either way, Oliver Glasner’s side will need to be sharp in the coming months: negotiate well, find the balance between experience and youth, and avoid another frantic deadline-day U-turn. Palace fans deserve clarity — and fast.
