Chelsea transfer news: The Blues eye Lacroix in €55m move
Chelsea transfer news: Chelsea’s pursuit of Maxence Lacroix is shifting from back-channel whispers to concrete reality. Fabrizio Romano confirmed this week that the Blues have opened direct lines with the Crystal Palace man’s camp, with Stamford Bridge officials currently crunching the numbers on a potential switch. The defender is reportedly sold on the project Xabi Alonso is building in west London. That matters. Player preference, after all, usually dictates exactly where these sagas end.
Right now, Lacroix is busy preparing for France’s World Cup campaign, having been drafted in following William Saliba’s injury heartbreak. A senior call-up in March transformed him from a reliable Premier League defender into a hot international commodity, and Chelsea’s scouts were clearly ahead of the curve before the tournament hype inflated his price. Palace picked him up for just £18m back in August 2024. Now, the fee is hovering around €55m. That is the cost of two seasons of consistency in the Premier League.
The numbers behind the target
He’s a workhorse. Start with the basics: 35 league appearances, all from the first whistle. He clocked 111 successful aerial duels, a 62.64% success rate, and made 108 interceptions. Stats are dry, sure, but look closer. He was fourth in the entire division for ball regains. Alonso wants a high line, aggression, and defenders who can cover space at a sprint. Lacroix ticks those boxes and then some.
Across 55 games in all competitions last term, he helped keep 16 clean sheets. It wasn’t just about putting his foot in, either. Three goals and three assists prove he’s comfortable stepping into midfield when the space opens up. He played the full 90 in the Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano, just weeks after anchoring a stubborn Palace rearguard that shut out Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Two major trophies in two seasons; that’s the kind of temperament that doesn’t blink under the Stamford Bridge spotlight.
Read: Chelsea have held productive talks with €80m full-back
There’s a real chance Chelsea could bring in two centre-backs this summer. With Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Wesley Fofana all facing uncertain futures, the club need to clear the deck and reset. Market values move fast, especially when a player is putting in shifts on the world stage, and Chelsea seem keen to beat the post-tournament rush.
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