Liverpool are reportedly now in contact with Crystal Palace to sign Maxence Lacroix this summer, while reports persistently link the Reds with his teammate, Adam Wharton.
A claim made by Indykaila, an X account run by a group of journalists rumoured to consist of Melissa Reddy, Lewis Steele, Paul Joyce, Ben Jacobs and David Ornstein, suggests Liverpool have made contact with Palace for Lacroix.
They tweeted: “Exclusive: Liverpool at 10am this morning contactedCrystal Palace FC.
“Subject: Maxence Lacroix.”
Exclusive ?
Liverpool at 10am this morning contacted @CPFC
Subject: Maxence Lacroix pic.twitter.com/ICN8RiH4aQ
— indykaila News (@indykaila) July 17, 2026
If true, this is a very encouraging update given the lack of depth at centre-back after Ibrahima Konate made a free agent move to Real Madrid this summer.
Liverpool have officially signed Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes after they reached an agreement for his signature in January worth £60m, but his arrival was not supposed to coincide with the exit of Konate.
Media roundup: What else has been reported about Lacroix’s future?
The Times reports that Liverpool are not the only side interested in Lacroix, with Chelsea and Xabi Alonso keen on signing the French centre-back this summer.
It will reportedly cost over £55m to convince Crystal Palace to part ways with the 26-year-old. Lacroix has three years left on his deal with the London outfit, but with his deal worth around £60,000 per week, he is understandably keen to earn more, which he could with a move to one of the bigger Premier League clubs.
Palace reportedly have an interest in FC Augsburg centre-back Chrislain Matsima if Lacroix leaves this summer.
Lacroix would be the perfect Konate replacement for Jacquet to learn from
With Konate now no longer at Anfield, the centre-back situation has become more complicated.
As thing stand, these are Liverpool’s senior central defenders:
Virgil van Dijk (35)
Joe Gomez (29)
Jeremy Jacquet (21)
Giovanni Leoni (19)
Leoni and Jacquet are hugely exciting, but neither is guaranteed to replicate the level Konate was operating at before last season.
The bigger issue is that an injury to van Dijk leaves Liverpool without any elite central defenders to call upon which would be a major risk to Andoni Iraola’s first season in charge.
Signing another centre-back is a must.
Michael first started supporting Liverpool after Istanbul in 2006. He has since followed the Reds with passion and curiosity, founding Rousing the Kop, Anfield Central while briefly co-owning Anfield Watch. Michael lives in Cape Town, South Africa.