Chelsea learn £55m price for Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix
Chelsea will have to pay at least £55million to sign Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, according to The Times. New Blues boss Xabi Alonso has made the France World Cup centre-back a top summer target, but Palace have raised their asking price after previously being linked with a deal under £50million.
Key Takeaways
- Chelsea face a Palace asking price of at least £55m for Maxence Lacroix.
- Xabi Alonso rates the France World Cup centre-back as a priority signing.
- Lacroix has privately indicated he wants a move to Stamford Bridge.
- Liverpool have also contacted Crystal Palace about the defender.
- Negotiations are expected to start after France's World Cup third-place match.
The fee hike matters for Chelsea because it reframes a London move that once looked closer to £50m. Palace's valuation, reported via Metro citing The Times, draws on recent Premier League centre-back deals, including Tottenham's £52m move for Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke.
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Why are Chelsea being asked for £55m?
Earlier reports suggested an offer under £50million could have been enough for Palace to sell their vice-captain. That window has closed. The Eagles now want at least £55million for a player who still has three years left on his contract.
Lacroix joined Palace from Wolfsburg two years ago for £18m. He has since helped deliver the club's first major silverware, playing a key role in the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League triumphs.
Palace, managed by Pierre Sage, are reluctant to lose the 26-year-old. They have been linked with Augsburg's Chrislain Matsima as a possible replacement and were already planning to recruit another centre-back ahead of their Europa League debut.
Does Maxence Lacroix want to join Chelsea?
Yes, according to the reporting. Lacroix has privately indicated his desire to move to Stamford Bridge. Alonso has hinted he may deploy a back three, a shape the France international is already comfortable playing.
Any formal talks have waited for the World Cup to wind down. Lacroix has made two appearances in North America, including coming off the bench for the injured William Saliba in France's 2-0 semi-final loss to Spain. He is expected to start against England in Saturday's third-place play-off, after which Chelsea are set to push their interest.
Squad planning is part of the picture too. With no European football this season, Chelsea are looking to trim numbers. Centre-backs Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah have been placed on the transfer list, with Chalobah reported to have agreed personal terms with Como despite interest from Palace.
Could Liverpool disrupt Chelsea's chase?
Possibly. A separate report said Liverpool contacted Crystal Palace at 10am on Friday about Lacroix. There is no bid or agreement yet—only an enquiry as Andoni Iraola continues to assess centre-back options.
That contact still raises the stakes. If another Premier League giant is testing the market, Palace's £55m stance looks harder for Chelsea to talk down. For now, the Blues know the new price—and must decide whether Alonso's top target is worth it.