Chelsea are now considering a move for a "sensational" Premier League star, following the appointment of Xabi Alonso as manager.
Alonso announced as new Chelsea manager
It has been a very disappointing campaign for the Blues, losing the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday, but next season could be far more successful, having confirmed the appointment of former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager Alonso.
The Spaniard won the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal during his time in Germany, while also guiding Leverkusen to the final of the Europa League, and he is now set to manage in the Premier League for the first time, starting July 1st.
The 44-year-old said: “Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.
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“From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.
“There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.”
Having gotten a new manager through the door, BlueCo can now start making plans for the summer transfer window, and they have set out to strengthen in defence.
Chelsea plotting move for Crystal Palace star
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea are now considering a summer move for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, who could be Alonso's first signing, but a deal is likely to be on the expensive side.
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The Eagles value the centre-back at £50m, and they are determined to keep hold of him beyond the summer, amid widespread interest from rival Premier League clubs, with the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa also keen.
There is also mounting interest from across Europe, with the Frenchman impressing ever since arriving at Selhurst Park in 2024, according to scout Antonio Mango, who praised him on X.
The 26-year-old, who has now earned two caps for France, has been one of Oliver Glasner's most important players this season, missing just two Premier League games, and an average of 1.3 interceptions per 90 is the second highest in the Palace squad.
Despite sitting 15th in the Premier League table, Palace have conceded the same number of goals as the Blues in the Premier League, and Lacroix has been indispensable, so he could be a savvy addition to Alonso's squad.
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