Enzo Maresca has used Axel Disasi scarcely in the Premier League this season (Image: Getty)
are reportedly blocking Axel Disasi’s move to after the out-of-favour defender agreed personal terms earlier this week.
Blues manager has only handed Disasi four starts this season and the 26-year-old is keen to bank regular football away from Stamford Bridge. Despite interest from , Disasi is believed to have pinpointed Villa Park as his preferred destination.
Injuries have left Villa boss light at centre-back, meaning Disasi would be in a healthy position to play week in, week out during the second part of the season. However, claim that chiefs have put the brakes on negotiations.
The report states that talks between the two clubs are ‘not progressing’, despite bosses pledging to find Disasi a loan move before the end of the window. And the Blues’ stalling tactics are believed to have sparked concern among senior figures at Villa Park, who fear that the green light may never come.
The West Midlands outfit are also interested in Lens defender Kevin Danso as Emery looks to sure up his back line.
Villa are exploring options at the business end of the pitch, too, with Disasi’s team-mate Joao Felix and Paris Saint-Germain ace Marco Asensio both of interest, according to president of football operations Monchi.
Axel Disasi has agreed personal terms for a move to Aston Villa (Image: Getty)
It promises to be a busy end to the window for both Villa and . While Villa are expected to recruit, Maresca still has excess weight to shed from his squad, with Disasi among a host of players who could be moved on.
Ben Chilwell, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku and Carney Chukwuemeka have all been starved of action this campaign.
‘s form has suffered in recent weeks, with only one win in their last seven league games. And Maresca believes persistent transfer speculation around a number of his players is partly to blame.
“It’s not only us, it’s all the teams,” he explained. “Because in the end, the players are human beings. Even if they say, ‘No, I’m professional, I’m focused on this,’ if they are thinking about us and different clubs then the focus is not 100%.
“This can be something [to explain our recent form]. The good thing is that we are still playing well, we still create chances. The big difference for me has been inside the box.”