Crystal Palace have reached an agreement with 19-year-old Brest defender Raphaël Le Guen, according to L’Équipe. The central defender, contracted to the Ligue 1 club until 2029, is being targeted as a potential replacement for Maxence Lacroix, who is reportedly close to joining Chelsea. Discussions have progressed rapidly in recent days, with Palace officials securing an agreement with Le Guen over personal terms.
A formal offer is expected to be submitted to Brest in the coming days. The Breton club are currently reluctant to part with the young player, and will likely demand a substantial fee for his transfer. Brest have developed Le Guen through their youth system, and he has made six appearances for the first team.
Le Guen primarily plays as a centre-back, but is also capable of featuring as a defensive midfielder. He made his professional debut for Brest in August 2023, and has shown promise in limited appearances. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is reportedly seeking defensive reinforcements ahead of the new season, and sees Le Guen as a long-term solution.
Fulham have also expressed interest in Le Guen, but are currently behind Crystal Palace in the race for his signature. While Fulham have registered their interest, they haven’t advanced their pursuit to the same extent as Palace. The potential arrival of Le Guen at Selhurst Park could provide competition for established centre-backs like Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi. The transfer would also allow Palace to prepare for Lacroix’s potential departure to Chelsea.
