Chelsea have been encouraged to reconsider their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix following a high asking price from the London club, with former academy graduate Fikayo Tomori emerging as a more sensible alternative. New manager Xabi Alonso is prioritizing defensive reinforcements after a season that saw the Blues miss out on European qualification, a need further exacerbated by the sale of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid.
Palace are reportedly demanding £55 million (€65m) for Lacroix, a figure that Chelsea may find excessive given the 26-year-old’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of £39.5m (€46.4m). The club are seeking a high-quality central defender, ideally with Premier League experience, and a ball-playing style similar to Lacroix.
Fikayo Tomori, currently at AC Milan, has been identified as a potentially more suitable option. The 28-year-old progressed through Chelsea’s academy, making 27 first-team appearances, and has since established himself as a key player in Serie A. Tomori has demonstrated consistent reliability, with a hamstring injury in the 2023/24 season being his most recent absence.
Data from SciSports indicates Tomori possesses a SciSkill rating of 109.5, exceeding Lacroix’s current rating of 99.6 and his potential rating of 109.3. Furthermore, Tomori’s contract at Milan expires next summer, making him potentially available for a significantly lower fee than Palace’s valuation of Lacroix. His ETV currently sits at €14.8m. While some may view Tomori’s age as a drawback, Chelsea could benefit from his experience and leadership qualities, areas where the squad currently lacks depth. The club should seriously consider Tomori as a more pragmatic and valuable addition to Alonso’s squad.
