Axel Disasi, 25, of Monaco, is said to have ‘signed personal terms’ with Newcastle despite the Premier League club making no bid. Man United have long been interested in signing Disasi, but have yet to make an approach, leaving rival clubs to pounce.
According to Play Transfers, the French international has agreed to join Newcastle after the club approached his representatives, on the condition that he is promised first-team Premier League play.
However, The Gazette believes that Newcastle is not actively pursuing Disasi, with no bid made and club sources dismissing the move.
Last season, the 25-year-old scored six goals in 49 appearances for Monaco and is worth between £35 and £40 million.
This summer, Magpies head coach Eddie Howe hopes to bolster his defensive options. Despite a dearth of rotation options, Newcastle enjoyed the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League last season.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles was frequently picked as Newcastle’s lone center-back on the bench, behind Sven Botman and Fabian Schar in the starting lineup. Schar has one year left on his current contract at St James’ Park and will turn 32 next season, while Lascelles’ long-term future at the club is questionable due to a lack of first-team experience under Howe.
However, there is no assurance that any new defender will replace Botman or Schar at the heart of the defense. Botman had to wait for a run of games last season after arriving from Lille for £35 million, and any new defender would be forced to do the same.
Newcastle, on the other hand, will have more first-team opportunities next season, as the club will compete in four competitions, including the Champions League.
Newcastle has also been connected with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio in recent weeks, but Howe thinks the club is hampered by money constraints this summer.
“We have a very strict budget that we’re trying to work within,” he explained. “As with all FFP projects, there are some areas where you can be creative, but we don’t have a large budget to work with.”
