Crystal Palace are genuinely interested in signing Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong on loan but do not expect the Stamford Bridge hierarchy to sanction the 20-year-old’s departure on a temporary basis this summer. It is hardly surprising the Eagles are keen given the defender’s growing reputation at the Bridge.
Acheampong made his senior bow in May 2024, but an impasse in contract negotiations led to a period of exile, with his reintegration in December followed by a long-term contract that runs until 2029. He has played both at right-back and in the heart of defence thanks to his versatility and has been a regular for the Chelsea side that lifted the Conference League, making seven appearances in that competition.
Chelsea’s position, however, has not been flexible. Reports from Stamford Bridge in June had suggested that the club’s attitude towards Acheampong had not changed whatsoever, with the youngster still considered one of their untouchables despite covetous overtures from some of the most formidable clubs in England and across Europe. Previous requests by the Palace have been met with equally firm rejection.
That said, the Eagles’ defensive problems are real, and they need to be fixed fast. An initial £20m sale to Manchester City in January took an authoritative organiser from them in Marc Guehi. Chris Richards, Chadi Riad, and Jaydee Canvot are the remaining options for Pierre Sage ahead of a first Europa League campaign. Their long-standing interest in Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima has hit a snag with the club reportedly ready to walk away from negotiations in frustration at the slow pace of progress.
Lacroix Nearly a Chelsea Player
The Acheampong overture is intertwined with the imminent loss of Palace’s defensive fulcrum. Maxence Lacroix has undergone a medical in London, with the two clubs exchanging paperwork to complete a £52m move. The 26-year-old is expected to sign a six-year deal which will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2032.
Lacroix’s climb since arriving in south London has been nothing short of spectacular. He has played 98 times for Palace since arriving from Wolfsburg for £18m in August 2024, making 55 appearances in all competitions last season, winning the Community Shield and Conference League, and earning a place in France’s 2026 World Cup squad. His influence helped Palace to 16 clean sheets in the Premier League last summer.
It is a notable departure from Chelsea’s traditional recruitment model. The club hadn’t paid a transfer fee for a player aged 26 or over since the ill-fated summer of 2022, which brought Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly to the club. Lacroix’s signing will inevitably force a recalibration of Xabi Alonso’s defensive pecking order, putting the futures of Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, and Mamadou Sarr in doubt.