“Strange” Chelsea transfer move criticised by former Spurs manager who hails “excellent” physical defender | OneFootball

Harry Redknapp’s team of the week is out, and we’re not surprised there are no Chelsea players in there. We won, but our dour 1-0 victory over Leicester at home didn’t impress anyone.

There were certainly plenty of Chelsea connections in there however – former Blues Mo Salah, Ola Aina and Declan Rice all made it. So did a player still currently on the books, but out on loan since a January switch:

“I know Axel Disasi was playing at right-back, but I’m putting him [in my team of the week] centrally,” former Spurs coach Redknapp wrote.

“He was excellent against Brentford and already looks more at home in the Aston Villa backline than he did in Chelsea’s. It’s easy to say now but it was a little strange that Chelsea would loan a player to a top-four rival.”

Improving Villa using Chelsea’s own assets against them

Axel Disasi shrugs off a challenge. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Villa’s win over a notoriously tricky Brentford side was another massive step for them as they race us for those final Champions League spots. Their form has surged since the start of February when Disasi joined them – they’ve lost just once in the league since then and are on the verge of making it to the Champions League Quarter finals.

It’s no wonder that, as we covered earlier today, Villa are reportedly already interested in signing him permanently this summer. So while our sporting directors may be patting themselves on the back now for finding a loan which has hugely boosted Disasi’s potential sale value in the summer – just imagine how they’ll feel if Villa finish above us in the league with the Frenchman a key part of their revival?

As it stands we’re 4 points ahead of them with a game in hand – but with a nasty run in to come.