Chelsea set to loan out two key players to Aston Villa, with a third heading to Portugal

Chelsea are set to offload a number of players this month, with two key stars heading to Aston Villa and another set to join a Portuguese club.

Defender Axel Disasi has been told he is surplus to requirements under new manager Enzo Maresca and is free to leave Stamford Bridge. The French international has been linked with a number of clubs, including Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atalanta. However, Aston Villa are currently leading the race for his signature, having already agreed personal terms with the player.

Disasi could be joined at Villa Park by Joao Felix, who has also fallen out of favor at Chelsea. French journalist Fabrice Hawkins has reported that Aston Villa have made direct contact with Chelsea regarding a potential move for the Portuguese forward.

Meanwhile, midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is attracting interest from both Porto and Juventus. The young Englishman has struggled to establish himself in the Chelsea first team and a move away could be beneficial for his development.

This mass exodus signals a significant shift in Chelsea's squad planning. With new manager Maresca looking to implement his own style of play, a number of players are being deemed surplus to requirements.