Chelsea Finalise Double Deadline Day Departures as Fofana Heads for Fifth Loan
Chelsea Football Club are poised for a significant reshuffle on transfer deadline day, with the club actively working on multiple deals ahead of the crucial 7pm cut-off point. The Blues are set to confirm two notable departures as they streamline their squad for the remainder of the season.
Striker Set for Fifth Loan Move
David Datro Fofana is on the verge of completing another loan move, this time to French side Strasbourg. The 23-year-old Ivorian striker, who was recalled from his spell with Fatih Karagumruk just last month, will provide attacking reinforcement for the BlueCo-owned club. This move comes as Strasbourg's current striker, Emanuel Emegha, who is due to join Chelsea in the summer, is currently sidelined through injury.
This represents Fofana's fifth loan spell since joining Chelsea, having previously spent time at Burnley, Goztepe, and Union Berlin. The club had originally planned to sell the out-of-favour forward this winter, but the injury to Emegha has prompted this temporary solution instead.
Defender Nears Exit After Year Out of Favour
Meanwhile, Axel Disasi is also nearing an exit from Stamford Bridge. The 27-year-old versatile defender hasn't featured for Chelsea's first team in over twelve months and has been training separately from the main squad for much of that period.
Disasi appears set to complete a loan switch to West Ham United until the end of the campaign, despite strong interest from Italian giants AC Milan. The Frenchman is expected to make the move to the London Stadium before tonight's deadline, providing him with much-needed playing time.
Additional Squad Movements Confirmed
Chelsea are also set to confirm two further departures today. Tyrique George will join Everton on loan with a purchase option, a move that was secured on Sunday following discussions between the clubs after Jack Grealish's season-ending injury.
Additionally, Aaron Anselmino is poised to join Strasbourg until the season's conclusion. The Argentine centre-back was recalled from his loan spell with Borussia Dortmund last weekend to facilitate this move.
In a corresponding defensive reinforcement, Mamadou Sarr is to be recalled from Strasbourg to strengthen Chelsea's defensive options for the rest of the campaign.
Structured Approach to Transfers
Head coach Liam Rosenior will welcome Sarr's arrival, but has emphasised the club's structured approach to transfer business. Chelsea's operations are led by their five-strong sporting director set-up comprising Dave Fallows, Joe Shields, Laurence Stewart, Paul Winstanley, and Sam Jewell.
"That's the beauty of being a head coach within a structure," Rosenior recently stated. "I'm not an old-school manager that's got out the phone and is making calls. I've got the best people, I think, in world football working on those things. I probably see the last two per cent of the work they do. That allows me to focus on what I need to focus on: the team and the performance."
The club's business reflects this collaborative approach, with multiple moves being coordinated simultaneously to optimise the squad for the challenges ahead.
