Arsenal are in talks to sign £15million-rated Reims centre back Axel Disasi on a five-year deal.
The defender is rated as the best emerging talent in Ligue 1 this season.The Reims centre-back has shone this season to inspire his unfancied club to fifth in the league and the team with the second best defensive record in the entire top five leagues in Europe before coronavirus halted the Ligue 1 programme.Disasi has been dubbed Reims’ find of the season after commanding a regular first-team place through out the season.
The Gunners had an initial approach rejected by the Ligue 1 side in December but with the 22-year-old’s contract expiring in June next year, Reims have agreed to let the player leave this summer to avoid losing him for free in 12 months.
Disasi, a France Under 20 international who is also eligible for DR Congo, has been scouted by Arsenal since the start of the season at Reims, where he has formed a key part of a defence that has conceded just 21 goals in 28 Ligue 1 games.
Only Real Madrid have a better defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues in 2019-20.. Tall, strong and a fine distributor of the ball from the back.
It seems as though every season at least one player emerges from the French top flight to make a genuine impact and attract scouts from all over Europe. Over the first half of this season that player has been Axel Disasi of Reims.
Now, 22 , Disasi has enjoyed a breakout start to the 2019/20 season. Physically imposing, at 6ft3, he is strong and quick over short or sustained distances. Indeed, there is more than a passing resemblance in his game to that of Ibrahima Konate of RB Leipzig. ” He has everything Konate has, without the huge price” says Gunners legend Robert Pires. There is absolutely no doubt that Disasi will be available for a fraction of the cost of Konate. Disasi was born in France but also qualifies for the Democratic Republic of Congo through his parents. He grew up, as so many other footballers have, in the suburbs of France and made his first steps as a professional at Paris FC. Reims picked him up on a free transfer in 2016 in a move that could prove ingenious when Disasi eventually makes his move.
So far this season Disasi has played 1716 minutes. Defensively he is dominant with 5.77 aerial duels and 4.35 interceptions per 90 minutes. In possession, Disasi is still slightly raw but there are signs that in a more possession orientated system he will develop into someone who progresses the ball well. He is averaging 5.4 passes into the final third, 15.68 forward passes and 7.71 progressive passes per 90 minutes.
Disasi is physically very strong and he controls the space around him very well. He is capable of holding his ground against most forwards however much they try to push back into him to create space.
As well as controlling space in the penalty area Disasi is also proactive at defending space in his own half.
Disasi is difficult to dispossess when in possession given his size and the length of his legs
His range of passing is excellent and more often than not the weight on these passes is perfectly judged. Reims have already made it clear that they have no plans to sell Disasi this winter. They are aware of growing interest in the defender though and it is likely that he will be sold in the summer. A move to England or Germany seems to make the most sense given the players playing style.
The move would further bolster manager Mikel Arteta’s centre back options, with 19-year-old William Saliba – who signed from Saint-Etienne for £27m last summer before being loaned back for this campaign – also adding to the ranks.
The fee discussed – understood to be in the region of £15m – represents Arsenal’s new market under a reduced transfer budget this summer.
The club were already financially hamstrung before the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, having reported a £27.1m loss for the 2018-19 season. The club were linked with RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, but the 21-year-old has been valued at around £80m by the Bundesliga side.
Director Josh Kroenke, son of owner Stan, remarked last year that Arsenal have a ‘Champions League wage bill on a Europa League budget’.
And with the club ninth in the Premier League before play was suspended, Arsenal could be without any European football next season for the first time in 25 years.
High earners Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been linked with moves away, while club executives on Wednesday agreed to pay cuts of more than a third for the next 12 months to ensure all other non-playing staff can receive their full salary during the pandemic.