According to a recent report by Goal, West Ham United will face stiff competition from Arsenal, Southampton, AS Monaco and other strong teams from Germany in pursuit of Reims defender Axel Disasi this summer. The same source has also mentioned that the Ligue 1 side are demanding €15m for their prized asset with the Hammers among several clubs keeping a close eye on the player.
Disasi’s Impressive Season In The French Top-Flight
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a solid season at Stade Auguste-Delaune and has managed to make himself a mainstay at the heart of the Reims defence. He has played in 32 matches for the French outfit this term and has got one goal to his name across all competitions which is a surprise considering how potent of a goal-threat he can be from set-pieces in the opposition half.
Defensively, Disasi has averaged 1.2 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 3.6 clearances in every 90 minutes of league football this season (stats via whoscored). His incredible contributions at the back have not gone unnoticed as some of the top clubs in Europe, including West Ham United, are circling him ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Gonesse-born defender has represented France at the Under-20 level but has gotten nowhere near Didier Deschamps’ first-team. Maybe a summer switch to the Premier League could help him to make more of an impression at the highest level so that he can make a senior appearance for his nation someday.
What Will The French Defender Add To Moyes’ Team?
Disasi lacks pace but more than makes up for it through his sheer strength and dominance in the air. It’s fair to say that he wins most of his aerial duels at the heart of David Guion’s backline. The Frenchman can also read the danger quickly that helps him pull off some vital interceptions and last-gasp clearances for his side. He has been quite tidy with his ball-distribution after completing 84.6% of his attempted passes in the Ligue 1 this season (stats via whoscored).
However, Disasi’s game is still a bit rough around the edges, but all of his potential suitors will believe that the best is yet to come from him. The Hammers need a promising and up-and-coming centre-half who can push the likes of Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna, Fabian Balbuena and Gonçalo Cardoso for a place in David Moyes’ starting XI next season. Therefore, Disasi fits the bill perfectly as he is more than capable of giving them a run for their money in search of a regular starting berth at the London Stadium in the years to come.
Moyes will also get the freedom to deploy a three-man backline more often so that his side can compete with the big spenders of the Premier League in the upcoming campaign. All in all, it makes a lot of sense for the Hammers to orchestrate a move to bring the French centre-back to East London ahead of the new season.
