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Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nIf the fish rots from the head \u2013 as the old saying goes \u2013 then the decapitation of West Ham United\u2019s old ownership group could save the club from decomposing further.<\/strong><\/p>\n Optimism abounds under Daniel Kretinsky. It has only been a few weeks since Kretinsky increased his share to 43 per cent \u2013 the Czech sphinx overtakes departed chairman David Sullivan on 37 per cent \u2013 but West Ham United already feel like a more modern, forward-thinking, ambitious institution.<\/p>\n Less a rotting fish, more of a sleeping giant waiting for the alarm to go off.<\/p>\n A Chelsea source thinks the return is possible\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n When relegation was confirmed, if any supporter expressed their belief that Axel Disasi would return to the London Stadium, you would question if the glass was merely half-full or spiked with some sort of powerful hallucinogenic.<\/p>\n Now, as Kretinsky prepares to invest a further \u00a3100 million in order to rebuild Nuno Espirito Santo\u2019s squad \u2013 as new Director of Player Recruitment Nils Koppen talks about the need to find players capable of leading West Ham out of the Championship and consolidating them again in the Premier League \u2013 a Disasi homecoming no longer feels quite so fanciful.<\/p>\n According to Chelsea source Simon Phillips, West Ham have a \u00a325 million fee all-but agreed with their London rivals. And while Disasi is yet to make a decision \u2013 one suspects he will have plenty of offers in the top-flight and abroad \u2013 it feels telling that he has not turned them down either.<\/p>\n As second-tier additions go, this would arguably be the biggest statement of intent since Nuno\u2019s Wolves stunned English and European football by bringing Ruben Neves to Molineux in 2017.<\/p>\n It is hard to imagine now, but there was once a time when Fosun International were hugely-popular in the Black Country. <\/p>\n Wolves relegation in 2025\/26 was littered with protests against a seemingly disinterested ownership group. Nearly a decade prior, the perspective was very different. <\/p>\n Fosun left no one in any doubt as to the extent of their ambitions, and the depth of their pockets, when bringing Neves to Wolves from Champions League Porto for a second-tier record fee of \u00a316 million.<\/p>\n There would be shades of that if Disasi returned to join the club he represented impeccably during a loan spell from February to June. <\/p>\n Kretinsky joined the board in 2021, but this is his first summer as the man calling the shots. The Czech billionaire has the money, and the ambition, to ensure his bite is as strong as his bark. <\/p>\n If reports are correct and West Ham are ready to spend \u00a325 million, Disasi would become the new record signing in the Championship. Pushing Neves down to fourth in the process; Ipswich winger Sindre Walle Egeli and Burnley misfit Mike Tresor joining Disasi on the podium.<\/p>\n It is not only the price tag that would send shockwaves through the division, from Southampton to the Steel City of Sheffield. Disasi is a France international with experience in the Champions League. Not only that, Disasi was one of the top-performing centre-backs in the Premier League in the first half 2026. <\/p>\n There are many reasons why West Ham are currently a Championship club. He certainly wasn\u2019t one of them.<\/p>\n \u201c(Disasi) has been a revelation since he\u2019s come to West Ham,\u201d former Upton Park boss Pardew told\u00a0talkSPORT of a defender who kept six clean sheets in 14 appearances under Nuno. <\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s brought a kind of aggression to that back four that was lacking. Set plays, he\u2019s quite dominant. And I think he\u2019s brought the other fella (Konstantinos Mavropanos) to life.\u201d<\/p>\n If Disasi could restrict Erling Haaland to a watching brief, imagine how dominant he could be against Tommy Conway, Mihailo Ivanovic and Luca Kjerrumgaard.<\/p>\n Taty returns, Nuno chats with Bowen, and a couple of youngsters make an appearance<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n According to\u00a0The Athletic, Disasi struck up a close bond with Nuno in East London. The love he received at West Ham was a welcome change from the cold shoulder of Cobham.<\/p>\n \u201cSo far, it\u2019s been really nice,\u201d said a man frozen out by Chelsea, speaking on the Ironcast\u00a0podcast in February. \u201cAs you know, my situation before was a little bit crazy. So, for me, it is only positive to be here. <\/p>\n It feels great to be part of something and to be in the group. The way the staff and the team have welcomed me\u2026 honestly, thank you to everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel I am in the right place. It feels like a family, and I love feeling that. Honestly, I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n Back in 2017\/18, Nuno\u2019s Wolves stormed to the Championship title with a midfielder of genuine Champions League quality pulling the strings.<\/p>\n If Kretinsky succeeds in bringing Disasi back, you\u2019d be a brave man betting against Nuno doing something very similar nine years on.<\/p>\nHow would you feel if Kretinsky brought Disasi BACK to West Ham? \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7<\/h3>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\nChelsea source thinks Axel Disasi could return to West Ham United<\/h2>\n
![\"Axel](\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264266937-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/div>Disasi loved his time under Nuno Espirito Santo in East London<\/h2>\n
Can you spot anything interesting as West Ham return for pre-season?<\/h3>\n