Chelsea have said they are going to be including new manager Xabi Alonso in discussions over new signings, and could have found the perfect target for how the Spaniard wants to play.
It has so far not been confirmed whether Alonso will want to bring the back three from Bayer Leverkusen with him to Stamford Bridge after it rendered so much success in Germany.
The Spaniard pushed on with a back four at Real Madrid, although was not given the time to get his ideas across before being replaced.
Where was that work rate in a Chelsea shirt last season?! 😮
Enzo Fernandez's stunning stats for Argentina vs Austria.
Chelsea interested in signing Maxence Lacroix
However, the fact Alonso has already asked for two new centre-backs this summer suggests he wants the capability to use the back three to his advantage.
With a desire to add Premier League experience to their ranks, Maxence Lacroix has emerged as a serious candidate to join the Blues this summer.
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Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images
According to The Athletic, Crystal Palace are under no pressure to sell the defender, although would consider striking a deal at the right price this summer.
A stellar season saw Lacroix pick up silverware in the form of the Community Shield and Conference League, 12 months after the Blues won the European competition.
He could also make his World Cup debut in the 2026 tournament, after being called up to the France side by Didier Deschamps.
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Lacroix would be the perfect signing for Xabi Alonso
The Frenchman has played 98 times for Palace, who under Oliver Glasner consistently featured with a back three.
This would be a massive boost to Alonso should he bring that system to Stamford Bridge, given he would be accustomed to the style of play.
Frequently for Palace, he featured at the heart of the defensive line, which could allow Levi Colwill to feature on the left of the three.
The likes of Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Josh Acheampong would likely be competing for the other role, although Chalobah is now being linked with a move away this summer.
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