Chelsea have ramped up their interest in centre-back Maxence Lacroix following a new round of positive negotiations with Crystal Palace. The discussions are being conducted directly between the ownership groups of both clubs.
Although Palace have been eager to extend Lacroix’s contract — which currently has three years remaining — the 26-year-old French international is understood to be seeking a fresh challenge. The Eagles are holding out for a fee of at least £60 million and have already begun scouting potential successors, with Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima among the profiles under consideration.
Lacroix joined Palace from Wolfsburg in August 2024 for a fee rising to £18 million and has since made 98 appearances. A World Cup participant with France, he has emerged as a primary defensive target for Chelsea this summer as the club prioritizes players with proven Premier League experience.
Meanwhile, the west London side are also nearing completion of a £117 million deal for Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers. Should the Lacroix transfer materialize, it would cast further doubt over the future of Trevoh Chalobah, who has attracted interest from Como.