Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix is widely expected to complete a transfer during the summer window, potentially playing his final game for the club against Arsenal on Sunday, according to RMC Sport. The France international has been with Palace for two years and recently earned a call-up to Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad.
Lacroix previously worked with current Palace manager Oliver Glasner during their time together at VfL Wolfsburg, and his departure could coincide with Glasner’s own exit. The 26-year-old is under contract with Crystal Palace until 2029, but the club is anticipated to demand a fee exceeding €40 million for his services.
While Lacroix is reportedly keen to remain in the Premier League, his preference is to join a club competing in the Champions League, limiting his potential destinations to Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, and potentially Bournemouth. Chelsea have identified Lacroix as a key centre-back target, alongside Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jan Paul van Hecke, but their lack of Champions League qualification may hinder their pursuit.
Lacroix has featured in 54 matches for Crystal Palace across all competitions this season. Should he depart, his final appearance for the club could come in the Europa Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. Data analytics from SciSports suggest Lacroix would be a valuable addition to Chelsea, possessing a SciSkill rating of 103.3, which would rank among the highest in their current squad and exceed those of Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, and Tosin Adarabioyo. His experience in a back-three system could also be beneficial under incoming manager Xabi Alonso.
