Chelsea transfer news: Exiled player 'ready and willing' to impress Enzo Maresca, earn first-team return

Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has reportedly not given up hope of being reintegrated back into Enzo Maresca's first-team squad.

Under two different managers, Disasi racked up 61 appearances in a Blues shirt between August 2023 and January 2025.

However, being loaned to Aston Villa for the final four months of 2024-25 effectively signalled that Maresca was keen to move on from using the France international.

That perception has since proven accurate, the 27-year-old having not been used during pre-season or the early weeks of the new campaign as he trains away from the senior group.

Nevertheless, as per BBC Sport, Disasi has no plans to coast through the coming months as he eyes a reprieve.

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What is Disasi's Chelsea stance?

The report alleges that Disasi's accepts that he will be training with the club's so-called 'bomb squad', players who have no future under Maresca.

That said, Disasi allegedly has ambitions to prove Maresca wrong and be ready if called upon at some point during the campaign.

Such hopes will be tempered by having already been left out of the Champions League squad and there is no indication that he will be included among the Premier League contingent.

There is scope for Disasi to be included for EFL Cup fixtures, like Ben Chilwell was when he was not considered for top-flight and European games during the first half of last season.

In the summer, the former Monaco star turned down chances to sign for the likes of Bournemouth and West Ham United.

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Wishful-thinking on Disasi's part?

Disasi's stance may stem from Levi Colwill having been ruled out for the majority of the season and Chelsea having failed to sign a replacement.

With Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino out on loan at Strasbourg and Borussia Dortmund respectively, there is the suggestion that they would be recalled in January if a new central defender is required.

As such, it feels highly unlikely that Disasi will come back into contention for anything other than  EFL Cup games, something that Maresca may consider when being mindful of the workload of his players after their Club World Cup exploits.