Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is reportedly in line to make the loan switch to another Premier League club.
The Blues are expected to be busy both in terms of incomings and outgoings during the closing week of the winter transfer window.
Renato Veiga and Cesare Casadei are in line to move to Serie A clubs, while a number of exiled players are currently waiting to receive concrete proposals.
In the case of Disasi, he has faced uncertainty over his short-term future, the Frenchman making 15 starts and two substitute outings in all competitions yet failing to win over supporters in Premier League fixtures.
As a result, the 26-year-old has been linked with a transfer elsewhere, including Juventus before they ultimately showed preference to signing Veiga on loan.
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Premier League club to win Disasi race?
However, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa have swooped in to try to wrap up the signing of Disasi.
The report claims that the player has already agreed personal terms with the West Midlands outfit having held talks with Unai Emery.
Disasi is ready to reject opportunities to move to a continental European club in order to wrap up a switch to the West Midlands.
Chelsea and Villa will now hold discussions to try to finalise a transfer, it not clear whether a permanent or loan deal is in the offing.
With Disasi having cost an alleged £38.8m as recently as 2023, Villa would realistically have to pay in excess of £25m to have any chance of a full-time arrangement.
Therefore, a loan of some kind appears more likely, particularly when Villa have issues with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations to contend with.
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Why do Villa need at least one centre-back?
With Diego Carlos having left for Fenerbahce for a fee in the region of £8.4m, Villa had already been in the market for a fresh face for the middle of their backline.
As a result of an apparent knee injury sustained by Tyrone Mings on Sunday, Emery has been forced to speed up the search for at least one addition.
Emery has also admitted that he is interested in negotiating a deal for Villarreal's Juan Foyth, a player that he knows well from his time with the Yellow Submarine.