Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea have confirmed the arrival of Maxence Lacroix, the third signing of the Xabi Alonso era at Stamford Bridge. Now, the Blues want another player who could cost north of £80m.
Lacroix’s arrival was confirmed on Thursday, with the defender signing a six-year contract after Chelsea had agreed a £52m fee with the Eagles. It takes Alonso’s spending to north of £200m on three players.
That is even before Chelsea’s pre-arranged four incoming signings, namely Emmanuel Emegha, Dastan Satpayev, Denner and Geovany Quenda. Three more are close, but are yet to be confirmed by Chelsea.
Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco are set to join Chelsea, though confirmation is yet to be announced. Despite all that, Alonso wants another signing, and the midfielder could cost £86m.
Chelsea now set to focus on Adam Wharton signing
With experience added in both attack and midfield, with Welbeck and Henderson, and a partner for Levi Colwill found, Alonso is now expected to go in for a ball-playing midfielder before the window ends.
HSK Zrinjski Mostar v Crystal Palace FC - UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off First Leg
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A £64m bid for Alex Scott was rejected, with Bournemouth making it clear the England star is not for sale. Now, Chelsea are set to go after another England player, namely Lacroix’s Palace pal Adam Wharton.
Wharton has been strongly linked with Chelsea for months. According to transfer expert Sebastien Vidal, the Blues are set to focus on a deal for Wharton – but the Blues need to offload a few players first.
Vidal posted on X: “Chelsea continues its transfer window. After finalizing the arrival of Maxence Lacroix, the Blues have resumed discussions with Crystal Palace regarding Adam Wharton.
Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace
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“The 22-year-old midfielder remains a priority target for Xabi Alonso. Palace is demanding €100M [£86m], while Chelsea will first need to trim its squad before making a move,” Vidal said after Lacroix’s arrival.
Wharton might not be the only Palace player to join after Lacroix
Chelsea and Palace have always had a good relationship over the years. It has seen the likes of Nathan Ake, Trevoh Chalobah, Michy Batshuayi and plenty of other players go on loan to Selhurst Park.
That works the other way, too. Chelsea secured a deal for Lacroix after Behdad Eghbali met with Steve Parish in New York, ahead of the World Cup final. But Lacroix might not be the only Palace player to join.
With Wharton a long-term target for the Blues, it could see Eghbali and Parish do business for a second time in the space of a few weeks. But a report from Colombia claims another Palace ace is a target.
Daniel Munoz, 30, has emerged as an option for the Blues this summer. Despite the signing of Marco Palestra, Chelsea may need to replace Malo Gusto, and Munoz could come in for a fee of around £34m.