Crystal Palace are on the hunt for a new centre-back as Maxence Lacroix heads to Chelsea
Despite the major upheaval brought about by manager Oliver Glasner’s exit, it’s been a surprisingly quiet start to the transfer window for Crystal Palace. New boss Pierre Sage is in, but only one new signing is, in the form of full-back Oscar Mingueza who arrived on a free transfer from Spanish side Celta Vigo.
Things could now be set to liven up, however, with star defender Maxence Lacroix closing in on a £52m move to Chelsea. The France international will be sorely missed at Selhurst Park, having played a key role in solidifying the defence as the Eagles stormed to FA Cup and UEFA Conference League glory in consecutive campaigns during his two-season spell at the club.
The move comes just a few months on from the south London side losing Marc Guehi to Manchester City - an outcome that may well have played a part in Glasner’s decision to leave SE25. The Eagles will back themselves to respond to Lacroix’s loss as they did with Guehi, with the club now famed for their impressive ability to dig out hidden gems across Europe.
With less than a month to go until the 2026/27 Premier League season begins, the pressure is now on Palace to find a new defensive partner for Chris Richards, and plenty of high calibre names have been mentioned over the past few weeks. The Eagles have European football again this season, which means they remain an attractive destination for potential new signings, and the club will be hopeful of landing a top quality centre-back.
Defenders Crystal Palace could target after Lacroix exit: Matsima to Acheampong
VfL Wolfsburg star Konstantinos Koulierakis has been linked with a Premier League move since last yearplaceholder image
VfL Wolfsburg star Konstantinos Koulierakis has been linked with a Premier League move since last year | Getty Images
Chrislain Matsima - Augsburg: This looks to be Palace’s most likely new centre-back. The Bundesliga powerhouse has been heavily linked with a switch to Selhurst Park of late, with the Eagles said to have already had a bid in the region of £17m turned down. They’re expected not to be deterred, and should swiftly return with an improved offer.
The issue for Palace is that with Lacroix’s fee well publicised, Augsburg know exactly how much cash they’ve got to play with, and will drive up their asking price accordingly. That said, it would be a surprise to see the 24-year-old go for any more than £25m, giving the Eagles plenty of money left over to also strengthen their squad elsewhere.
Konstantinos Koulierakis - VfL Wolsburg: Linked with both Liverpool and Spurs earlier this year, the 22-cap Greece international is now thought to be of great interest to Palace. He’s highly likely to leave his club this summer after they suffered relegation to the second tier of German football last season, and is thought to be valued between £30m-£40m.
Josh Acheampong - Chelsea: The Blues apparently offered all manner of squad players to Palace during their negotiations for Lacroix, including the likes of Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah. Unsurprisingly, none of those options took Palace’s fancy, but Acheampong could well stir some interest. Chelsea wouldn’t let their rising talent leave permanently, but he could be an excellent loan signing and give Palace more time to decide upon Lacroix’s long-term successor.
Defenders Crystal Palace could target after Lacroix exit: Nwaiwu to Ganiou
Could Pierre-Ismaëlo Ganiou be set for a reunion with Pierre Sage?placeholder image
Could Pierre-Ismaëlo Ganiou be set for a reunion with Pierre Sage? | AFP via Getty Images
Chibuike Nwaiwu - Trabzonspor: Billed as the backup option to Matsima, Nwaiwu is another towering centre-back who’s regarded as having the potential to thrive in the Premier League. The Nigeria international could well go to Fulham instead, however, with the Cottagers thought to have already agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old ace.
Ousmane Diomande - Sporting CP: We’ve seen plenty of transfer hijacks in the Premier League so far this summer - Newcastle have been done over twice already - and Palace could try and launch one themselves. Diomande is a highly-rated centre-back who’s been linked with a move to Premier League for years, and Nottingham Forest now look to be closing in on a deal.
With Europa League football to offer, Selhurst Park would surely be a tempting destination for the Ivory Coast international, who’s set to be sold for around £35m. That fee would be doable for Palace - whether they could convince the player to change his mind at the last minute is the real issue here.
Pierre-Ismaelo Ganiou - RC Lens: Sage could potentially return to his former club to raid one of their top stars in Ganiou. The 21-year-old has a seriously bright future ahead of him and has been tipped for a call-up to France’s talent-stacked senior side in the future. Talk on a potential reunion with his former manager has gone quiet over the past few weeks, however.