Chelsea have accelerated their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix as Xabi Alonso continues rebuilding his squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Blues have made encouraging progress in discussions over the France international, who has emerged as one of the club’s leading defensive targets after an outstanding campaign with Crystal Palace. While no agreement has yet been reached, negotiations have advanced in recent days and Chelsea are increasingly confident of securing the 26-year-old’s signature.
Lacroix joined Palace from Wolfsburg in 2024 and quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout central defenders. His commanding performances helped the Eagles win the UEFA Conference League and earned him a place in France’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Crystal Palace remain determined to keep the defender and are in a strong negotiating position. Lacroix is under contract until 2029, meaning the South London club are under no immediate pressure to sell. Reports suggest Palace would demand a fee well in excess of £50 million before considering any offers.
Despite Palace’s stance, Chelsea believe Lacroix would be an ideal addition to Alonso’s squad. The Frenchman is comfortable playing in either a back four or a three-man defence, while his pace, physicality and ability to play out from the back make him a strong tactical fit for the Spaniard’s preferred style.
Chelsea’s interest also reflects the uncertainty surrounding several current defenders. Levi Colwill remains central to the club’s long-term plans, but the futures of Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana are all less certain as Alonso evaluates his options. Chalobah, in particular, has attracted interest from Italian side Como, while Fofana’s persistent injury problems continue to raise concerns.
The Blues are not planning to stop with one defensive signing. Chelsea have already moved to strengthen at full-back by agreeing a deal for Atalanta’s Marco Palestra, while they continue to monitor additional centre-back targets as part of a wider overhaul of the back line.
Chelsea are also expected to recruit a new left-back following Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid, leaving Alonso with significant changes to make before the start of the campaign. The club’s recruitment strategy remains focused on signing players who are young enough to develop further but already possess top-level experience.
Lacroix fits that profile perfectly. After adapting quickly to English football and proving himself on both the domestic and European stage, he is viewed as a player capable of strengthening Chelsea’s defence immediately while offering long-term value.
Whether Chelsea can convince Crystal Palace to sell remains the biggest obstacle. However, with talks progressing and the defender reportedly open to the move, Stamford Bridge is increasingly emerging as the most likely destination should Palace eventually decide to negotiate.
