Chelsea transfer news: The Blues eye bold €40m swoop for Crystal Palace star Maxence Lacroix
Chelsea transfer news: Chelsea are tracking Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. According to The Daily Mail, Stamford Bridge chiefs see the 26-year-old Frenchman as their top defensive priority for the upcoming summer window. They want a deal done quickly. Palace, fresh off winning the UEFA Conference League, value their star man at a minimum of €40 million. It is a hefty price tag, but one that reflects his brilliant form and a contract running until 2029.
The background makes this interesting. Palace are in a strong position. Lacroix only arrived in London in 2024, quickly becoming a mainstay under Oliver Glasner before earning a spot in the France squad for the World Cup. Palace want to keep their core together under new manager Pierre Sage. However, the player has reportedly knocked back early contract extension talks at Selhurst Park.
That opens the door wide for Chelsea. The Blues shipped soft goals constantly last term. At 1.90 metres tall, Lacroix is the man identified to fix a broken backline. Crucially, he offers the height and dominance needed to sort out Chelsea’s abysmal record defending set-pieces.
Why Alonso must get his man?
Xabi Alonso needs this signing. Simple as that. The new Chelsea boss needs a mobile, aerially dominant centre-back to make his back-three system tick, and he needs one now. Marc Cucurella’s sudden £51.7 million move to Real Madrid has left the squad incredibly thin.
Lacroix is a good fit for his system. He spent two seasons playing exactly this role under Glasner. The muscle memory is already there. For €40 million, this is a rare value in an inflated market. He has the raw pace and aggression to partner Levi Colwill perfectly.
Read: Chelsea keen on summer transfer for €60m goalkeeper
Ninth place last season was a disaster. BlueCo have to back their manager immediately. This is a welcome shift away from signing unproven teenagers. Lacroix is a ready-made, Premier League-tested operator who can fix a fragile defence tomorrow. Palace will fight to keep him, but Chelsea have the financial muscle to force the issue before pre-season starts in July.
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