Crystal Palace resist Chelsea demand for €5m Axel Disasi loan fee

Chelsea are requesting a €5m loan fee for defender Axel Disasi, a demand that has caused Crystal Palace to hesitate in negotiations. The Blues are seeking this amount for a dry loan deal, which would not include an option for the player to be purchased permanently.

Crystal Palace have rejected the initial terms, viewing the €5m asking price as excessive. The Eagles are currently searching for a new central defender following the departure of Maxence Lacroix, who moved to Chelsea earlier this month in a €50m transfer. Lacroix's exit has left a vacancy in the Palace defense that the club is now attempting to fill.

Disasi, 28, is not expected to be part of Chelsea's long-term squad. He recently returned to Stamford Bridge after loan spells at West Ham and Aston Villa. During those stints, Villa paid a €6m loan fee, while West Ham paid €2m. Chelsea joined the market again this summer to recoup funds for the player, whose contract remains active until 2029.

Chelsea originally paid €45m for the defender in 2023. While his market value is estimated at €15m, the club is pushing for a high fee to sanction another temporary move. This financial requirement has created a deadlock between the two clubs.

Further discussions are scheduled to take place within the coming days. Both sides are expected to meet again this week in an attempt to reach a mutual agreement regarding the defender's future.