**Chelsea are set to snap up Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix in a deal worth €55m (£47m), according to reports in the French media.**
[_L’Equipe_](https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Mercato-maxence-lacroix-bien-parti-pour-s-engager-avec-chelsea-apres-la-coupe-du-monde-2026/1698439) claim that the 26-year-old is “expected” to seal his switch to Stamford Bridge after the World Cup.
New manager Xabi Alonso has made it a top priority to bring in a new centre-back, and Lacroix was seemingly deemed the no.1 target.
The Blues have been linked with several other options to strengthen the middle of defence, but they moved decisively to land the France international ahead of other clubs.
Lacroix has spent 4 seasons in a back three
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Palace signed the defender from Wolfsburg for €18m in the summer of 2024. He had already spent two years playing in a three-at-the-back system for the Bundesliga side before making the switch to Selhurst Park.
Eagles boss Oliver Glasner was also a proponent of the formation, and there is no doubt that he was targeted because of his familiarity with this approach.
It does suggest that Alonso wants to deploy him in a similar fashion at Chelsea, especially when you take into account the decision to sign wingback [**Marco Palestra**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-transfer-news-marco-palestra-5-things-to-know/) as well.
What does this mean for Chelsea’s other centre-backs?
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While the likes of Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong are not for sale, other players (such as Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah) could be allowed to leave if suitable offers are made.
Chalobah, in particular, is said to be attracting interest from Italy. Como and Inter Milan are both weighing up offers. The 26-year-old has two years left on his contract, and that is usually a key tipping point for the Blues in terms of selling or potentially extending his current deal. It looks like they are leaning towards the former. Tosin is in a similar situation.