Chelsea are poised to add Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix to their squad after the World Cup, with a deal reportedly worth €55 million, according to L'Equipe. The France international has indicated his desire to leave Selhurst Park, and Chelsea have emerged as the frontrunners for his signature, with personal terms not expected to be a stumbling block. This move comes after Chelsea missed out on Jan Paul van Hecke, who opted for a transfer to Tottenham, prompting the club to refocus their efforts on securing a more aerially strong centre-back to partner Levi Colwill.
In a separate deal, Chelsea have secured the services of Atalanta full-back Marco Palestra for a fee of approximately €50 million, beating out competition from Inter. Cagliari sporting director Guido Angelozzi revealed that Chelsea had been tracking the 21-year-old for over a year, with scouts attending both home and away matches. Angelozzi also highlighted the club’s thorough background checks, noting their interest in Palestra’s character and off-field conduct. Palestra spent the previous season on loan at Cagliari, where he consistently impressed Chelsea’s scouting team.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are preparing a formal bid for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, as reported by Nicolo Schira. Los Blancos have already agreed personal terms with the Argentina international and are expected to submit a “huge” offer to Chelsea. Fernandez is reportedly keen on a move to Madrid following Chelsea’s failure to qualify for European competition. Former teammate Marc Cucurella recently expressed his hope that the deal would be completed.
Not all of Chelsea’s transfer pursuits have been successful, however. Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup has rejected a summer transfer to Stamford Bridge, according to Record. Despite Chelsea holding talks with the player’s representatives and Benfica being willing to accept a €40 million fee, the Norway international has stated his preference for a club competing in the Champions League. These signings and potential departures signal a busy summer for Chelsea as they look to rebuild their squad under new management.
