Newcastle will shift focus to signing £40 Chelsea player after Benjamin Sesko – journalist
Newcastle United’s Transfer Strategy Takes Shape with Chelsea Defender in Sights
As the Benjamin Šeško pursuit reaches its critical phase, Newcastle United have already identified their next priority target – Chelsea defender Axel Disasi. The Magpies’ recruitment team has laid out a clear blueprint for this summer’s business, with the £40 million-rated French international emerging as a prime defensive target once their striker situation resolves.
The Šeško negotiations have dominated headlines in recent days, with Newcastle reportedly overtaking Manchester United in the race for the RB Leipzig forward. However, Eddie Howe’s squad planning extends beyond attacking reinforcements, recognizing the need to bolster a backline that conceded 62 Premier League goals last season. Disasi’s profile – a physically dominant center-back capable of covering at right-back – fits the mold of defender Howe has historically favored.
Chelsea’s willingness to entertain offers for the 26-year-old stems from their defensive logjam. Since arriving from Monaco in 2022, Disasi has found himself behind Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, and new signing Tosin Adarabioyo in the pecking order. His mid-season loan spell at Aston Villa demonstrated his Premier League credentials, but the Blues’ preference for ball-playing defenders has limited his opportunities at Stamford Bridge. Newcastle’s interest isn’t new – they monitored Disasi last summer before Chelsea secured his signature – but the circumstances have shifted significantly.
The proposed £30 million fee represents a sensible valuation for a player entering his prime years with top-flight experience in England and France. Disasi’s aggressive defensive style and aerial prowess (he ranks in the 89th percentile among center-backs for aerial duels won) would provide Newcastle with the steel they’ve lacked since Fabian Schär’s peak years. His versatility to deputize at fullback adds further value, addressing another area where Howe’s squad has looked light.
Chelsea’s openness to selling reflects their broader transfer strategy under the new ownership. The West London club has demonstrated impressive ruthlessness in offloading peripheral players, generating significant funds while streamlining their bloated squad. Disasi’s potential departure would continue this trend, freeing up wages and providing pure profit on their financial books given his amortized transfer fee.
For Newcastle, the dual pursuit of Šeško and Disasi reveals their multi-phase approach to this transfer window. Securing a marquee striker remains the priority, but defensive reinforcements follow closely behind in their hierarchy of needs. The club’s recruitment team, led by Dan Ashworth’s successor, has identified targets that fit both their playing philosophy and financial parameters.
Disasi’s potential arrival would signal a shift toward more physically imposing defenders after experiments with technically gifted but occasionally fragile options. His 6’3″ frame and comfort in direct defensive duels would provide a different dimension to Newcastle’s backline, particularly in set-piece situations where they’ve been vulnerable. The Frenchman’s experience in both Ligue 1 and the Premier League also reduces the adaptation period typically required for overseas signings.
As negotiations progress, much depends on Chelsea’s replacement plans and Newcastle’s ability to structure payments favorably within Profit and Sustainability regulations. The Magpies may need to offset some costs with player sales, but Disasi’s relatively modest wage demands compared to other Chelsea defenders make him an attainable target.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Newcastle can successfully execute this two-pronged recruitment strategy. Landing both Šeško and Disasi would represent an impressive summer haul, addressing critical weaknesses while demonstrating the club’s growing pull in the transfer market. For Disasi specifically, the move offers regular first-team football at an ambitious project – an opportunity that has become increasingly rare at his current club.
Newcastle’s interest underscores their pragmatic approach under Howe – identifying players whose skillsets match their tactical requirements while being available at reasonable fees. In Disasi, they see a defender who can immediately improve their defensive solidity while still possessing room for development under Howe’s coaching staff. As the Šeško saga approaches its conclusion, all signs point toward St. James’ Park’s next chapter being written by a French defender looking to revive his Premier League career.
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