Chelsea have been in talks over Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix for what feels like weeks, so what is exactly is holding up the deal?
Chelsea remain firmly in the hunt for Lacroix, but patience appears to be the name of the game as the Blues wait for the right moment to push a deal over the line.
If the move does happen, it looks like a sensible one.
Lacroix has already shown he can cope with the demands of the Premier League and would add pace, power and reliability to a Chelsea defence that has lacked consistency.
The Frenchman, who has featured for Les Bleus at the World Cup in America, finished 2025/2026 as Palace’s highest-rated outfielder with an average match rating of 7.03 — more than any other Chelsea star bar Joao Pedro (WhoScored).
The 26-year-old also started 35 Premier League games as a mainstay of ex-Palace boss Oliver Glasner’s backline, making a whopping 7.2 clearances per match on average – the joint-most in the league with Virgil van Dijk.
It is clear as day why Chelsea want the commanding centre-half, despite their already-huge collection of central defenders, with BlueCo attempting to back new boss Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea have been in negotiations with Lacroix and Palace for a while, with French newspaper L’Equipe even reporting that the deal is as good as done.
There were also whispers that Palace asked about Trevoh Chalobah in Chelsea talks revolving around Lacroix and Adam Wharton, but things have got pretty quiet recently.
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
Simon Phillips has established himself as one of the most reliable journalists covering Chelsea’s transfer activity. While he focuses almost exclusively on the club, many of his exclusives are later corroborated by national reporters. His information is generally well-connected, although transfer situations can naturally change as negotiations develop. |
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Finances |
Chelsea’s transfer strategy this summer appears closely tied to player sales before further major spending. Palace are not under financial pressure to sell Lacroix, strengthening their negotiating position, while Chelsea hope outgoing deals will create both squad space and financial flexibility before making a formal move. |
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Insight |
Lacroix has developed into one of the Premier League’s most reliable central defenders since joining Crystal Palace from Wolfsburg. His recovery pace, strength in one-on-one situations and ability to defend high up the pitch have earned him recognition with France and increased interest from leading clubs. |
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Impact |
Lacroix could provide Chelsea with the dependable defensive partner they have been searching for alongside Levi Colwill. His pace would suit Alonso’s preferred style, while his Premier League experience negates the need for a bedding in period. |
Fresh reports from Chelsea insider Simon Phillips, via his Substack, claim there are two main reasons why negotiations have slowed rather than gathering pace.
Why Chelsea haven’t signed Lacroix as two key factors hold up Crystal Palace deal
The first is Lacroix’s involvement with France at the World Cup, where they still have a third-place play-off against England to play.
Chelsea are reluctant to disrupt the defender while he is focused on international duty, with the tournament naturally delaying discussions involving a number of players across Europe.
The second issue is Chelsea’s own transfer business.
Before committing significant money to another signing, the club want to move more players out of the door after selling Andrey Santos to Man United.
Defensive departures are viewed as particularly important, with Chalobah, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile among the names linked with possible exits this summer.
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Chelsea have identified Lacroix as one of their leading centre-back targets and discussions over personal terms are not believed to be a problem.
However, agreeing a fee with Crystal Palace is expected to become the priority once sales generate more room in the squad and on the wage bill.
Palace are under no immediate pressure to cash in on the Frenchman, meaning Chelsea are unlikely to force the issue until they are ready to act decisively.
That approach could help avoid unnecessary negotiations dragging on while the London club reshapes its squad.
With Alonso looking to build a defence capable of challenging for major honours, Lacroix remains a player high on Chelsea’s shortlist, and he is keen to join after ‘positive talks’.
There is an expectation this one speeds up after the weekend, with a deal of around £60 million floated by Phillips as Alonso’s side wait for the right moment to speed up talks.
As things stand, it looks likely this one gets done, just not quite yet.
