Chelsea have identified Maxence Lacroix as their top defensive target this summer with the Blues working on a deal to sign the Crystal Palace centre back
By all intents and purposes, Chelsea were extremely pleased with what they watched of Maxence Lacroix for Crystal Palace last season.
The Blues heavily scouted the 26-year-old defender with an eye on making a move for him the following summer. We are now in the summer and Chelsea, this week, stepped up their interest in Lacroix by opening club-to-club talks with Palace over a possible move.
After a couple of impressive seasons in the Premier League, it comes as little surprise that there is mass speculation over Lacroix’s future this summer. The France international moved to Palace in the summer of 2024 from Wolfsburg after a four-year spell in Germany.
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While there are so many aspects of Lacroix’s game that are mightily impressive, there might be a slight concern for Chelsea. Lacroix doesn’t have the best record when it comes to disciplinary. The Palace defender has picked up five red cards in 269 club appearances throughout his professional career.
On the face of it, that might not seem too bad, but when you do the maths: it works out to a sending off per season, essentially. The disciplinary past of Lacroix is more significant given Chelsea’s struggles in that area last season.
Wesley Fofana’s red card on the final day of the season was Chelsea’s 11th of the campaign (that includes Enzo Maresca’s dismissal against Liverpool). One of the many things included on Xabi Alonso’s to-do list is to spearhead a cultural reset at Stamford Bridge – and the club’s transfer strategy reflects that.
Chelsea want to, sources say, add players of a more mature nature this season; ones that will not wilt when faced with adversity and ones that won’t lose their heads on the pitch. Lacroix’s five career reds might suggest he does the latter but the Blues will have done their due diligence. The club would not have made a move, like they have, unless they thought Lacroix’s character was of the required level.
Talks continue behind the scenes as Chelsea look to strike a deal with Palace over a fee for the France defender. Reports suggest there will be no problem whatsoever if/when it gets to the personal terms stage.
