Xabi Alonso is working closely with Chelsea’s sporting leadership team to bring players in this summer, with Maxence Lacroix on the Blues’ agenda
As revealed towards the back end of last season, Chelsea planned to tweak their recruitment model going into the summer transfer window.
Since BlueCo bought the club in May 2022, the large majority of incomings at Stamford Bridge has been young, inexperienced players with huge potential. Some have worked, many have failed, and the jury is still out on some. However, in a meeting with the club’s sporting leadership team a few months ago, a decision was made.
While not deviating away from the youth-centric model, Chelsea will target more established – or as sources consistently describe, ‘ready-made’ – players this summer. The Blues want footballers with top-level experience and ones who respond positively to adversity.
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Marco Palestra, set to arrive from Atalanta, is an example of the old model still being in place and not disappearing. Maxence Lacroix, who Chelsea are in talks with Crystal Palace regarding, is an example of the tweaked model in place.
At 26 years old, Lacroix would instantly – if signed, of course – become one of Chelsea’s most senior players. With over four years of Bundesliga experience, Lacroix moved to the Premier League in the summer of 2024. The France international, now playing in his first World Cup, now has a couple of seasons of Premier League football under his belt.
Lacroix is ticking all of the boxes for Chelsea – and for incoming Blues manager Xabi Alonso. Managers/coaches often trust their counterparts in the sport and if Alonso appreciates the verdict of Oliver Glasner, who led Lacroix at Wolfsburg and then Crystal Palace, then the new Chelsea gaffer will be desperate for the club to complete the signing as soon as possible.
Speaking about Lacroix back in February, former Palace head coach Glasner said: “He plays incredible, so consistent. The level he is showing is really high and we can rely on him.”
Chelsea will be looking for a centre back to rely on next season. There cannot be too much reliance put on Levi Colwill’s shoulders given he returned to action after a lengthy ACL injury layoff towards the back end of last season. The Blues, and Alonso, will have to remain careful and cautious with Colwill next term.
Lacroix may have to be relied on more than Colwill for parts of next season. Chelsea are hoping the former can become the perfect long-term partner for the latter.
The Blues have a long list of centre-back options this summer, including Como defender Jacobo Ramon, but Lacroix shone brighter than the others from the west Londoners’ point of view. Seemingly, and rather surprisingly, Chelsea are being allowed a free run at a French international defender in Lacroix – let’s hope you don’t believe in jinxes.
Chelsea will hope a deal can be struck smoothly in the near future. Lacroix will hope his representatives can sort out his future – one way or the other – while not distracting him in the France camp.
