Maresca begins Chelsea clearout with 2 stars as Premier League rival agree deal

Chelsea have begun their latest clearout, with Renato Veiga joining Juventus on loan and Aston Villa closing in on a deal for Axel Disasi.

Veiga, who joined Chelsea from Basel last summer, will spend the remainder of the campaign in Italy after Juventus agreed to pay a loan fee of almost £4million and cover his wages in full. Juventus do not have an option to make the move permanent.

Villa, meanwhile, are in talks with Chelsea over the terms of a loan move for Disasi, with a loan fee and salary coverage still under discussion.

France international Disasi has already indicated a preference for joining Villa ahead of interest from clubs in Italy and other Premier League sides including Wolves, with his own personal terms now a formality.

Disasi, a £38.5 million signing from Monaco in 2023, has been a bit-part player at Stamford Bridge under Enzo Maresca, starting just four Premier League games this season. Villa are desperate for defensive reinforcements after Tyrone Mings limped off in Sunday's draw with West Ham - just days after Diego Carlos was sold to Fenerbahce.

Villa have been scouring the market for central-defensive options and Juan Foyth is another target, with Unai Emery having previously managed him at the Argentinian's current club Villarreal.

Foyth's compatriot Emi Buendia is heading out of Villa on loan to Bayer Leverkusen for the rest of the season in a deal which will include a £17m buy option. Elsewhere, Louie Barry was last night set for a medical with Hull after they agreed to sign him on loan from Villa for the rest of the campaign.

"We are open to try to improve the squad until the last moment and we are open as well in case someone is leaving," Emery said when asked about potential incomings and outgoings last week. "Of course, Diego Carlos left last week and we have to replace him. We are focusing with the sporting director and the club on which players could potentially replace Diego Carlos."

Villa have already strengthened their squad with the signings of forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund and right-back Andres Garcia from Levante and Emery believes Garcia has a big future at the club.

"He is a right full-back, potential, young player," Emery added. "He was progressing so quickly, and I knew him before. I know how he was doing, as a person as well. We decided to sign him because we were thinking it was a good opportunity, just in this moment - a really good opportunity. He is progressing so quick in his career."