Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.
The Blues are aiming to rebuild their defensive line under new boss Xabi Alonso. They are set to complete the signing of Atalanta wing-back Marco Palestra following Marc Cucurella’s departure to Real Madrid. The West London club’s next priority appears to be at central defence.
According to reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, Chelsea have started talks for Crystal Palace star Maxence Lacroix. They want to add at least one central defender to their squad amid interest in Trevoh Chalobah from Serie A clubs. Depending on outgoings, the Pensioners may look to bring in two players in this position.
Lacroix, 26, is currently away with France on World Cup duty. He has established himself as a key player for Crystal Palace since arriving from Wolfsburg in 2024. The Frenchman has been instrumental to the Eagles’ FA Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League triumphs. His impressive performances at Selhurst Park haven’t gone unnoticed, with Chelsea identifying the 26-year-old as an option to fortify their backline ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea—Does he suit Xabi Alonso’s blueprint?
One of the highly rated young managers in Europe, Xabi Alonso, has been brought in by Chelsea to turn the club’s fortunes around. The Spaniard, who will officially begin his work from July 1, has prioritised addressing the problems in defence.
He has targeted players like Palestra and Lacroix, which testifies to his focus on resolving defensive issues. And the players’ profiles are also an indication that Alonso will use 3-5-2/3-4-2-1 formations at Stamford Bridge, unlike his back-four system that failed miserably at Real Madrid and led to his sacking less than eight months into the job.
Lacroix was a regular fixture in former Palace boss Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-3 system across two seasons. The France international has established himself as a reliable defender in the Premier League, and a lot of that is down to the back-three system. The ex-Wolfsburg star’s lack of recovery pace was rarely exposed thanks to the presence of Marc Guehi and Jaydee Canvot on either side of him.
Under Alonso, Lacroix would be a great tactical fit, provided the new Chelsea boss sticks to his principles. The Villeneuve-Saint-Georges-born talent could become the leader of a potential new-look defence and provide the kind of stability the Blues have been lacking for the past few years. The Palace star has the mix of technical quality and physical attributes to thrive in Alonso’s style of play.
As Lacroix still has three years left on his contract, Palace are expected to demand a premium, which the Pensioners must pay to secure his signature.
