Chelsea have been informed of the fee required to sign Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix this summer, with reports suggesting the Eagles are seeking a fee exceeding €60 million. The Blues have reportedly offered four players – Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, and Trevoh Chalobah – in an attempt to lower the overall cost of the transfer, according to TEAMtalk.
Lacroix has emerged as Chelsea’s primary defensive target, and sources in France claim the 26-year-old has already agreed to personal terms with the club, contingent on his performances at the 2026 World Cup. However, Crystal Palace have publicly denied any contact with Chelsea, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Palace are understood to be holding firm on their valuation, citing Jan Paul van Hecke’s recent €60 million transfer from Brighton to Tottenham as a benchmark. Van Hecke’s move occurred despite having only one year remaining on his contract, while Lacroix is tied to Palace until 2029, giving the Eagles greater negotiating leverage.
Chelsea are actively seeking to reduce their squad size and offload players deemed surplus to requirements under new manager Xabi Alonso. Disasi has been on the club’s transfer list since 2024 and recently returned from a loan spell at West Ham. Badiashile also saw limited playing time last season, starting only eight Premier League matches, while Adarabioyo has also been made available for transfer.
Chalobah is potentially the most appealing player in the proposed exchange for Palace, having previously enjoyed a loan spell with the club in 2024. However, Serie A side Como are also interested in signing the England international. Palace, however, are reportedly prioritizing Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell as a replacement for Lacroix, should he depart.
Despite the lack of formal negotiations, Chelsea remain optimistic about securing a deal for Lacroix and intend to continue discussions while he participates in the World Cup. The potential sale of Disasi, Adarabioyo, or Badiashile would significantly improve Chelsea’s financial position and make a move for Lacroix more attainable.
