Chelsea in formal talks to sign £55m Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, also admired by Arsenal
Chelsea have initiated formal discussions with Crystal Palace over the transfer of centre-back Maxence Lacroix, valued at a minimum of £55 million. The Blues are seeking to bolster their defense with more pace, aggression, and reliability, particularly for a high defensive line. Arsenal also hold an appreciation for the French international but have not yet advanced their interest to formal talks. Crystal Palace, leveraging Lacroix's three-year contract and recent Premier League defender fees (e.g., Jan Paul van Hecke's £52m move to Tottenham), are in a strong negotiating position. Journalist Ben Jacobs confirmed the talks, while The Times reported Chelsea may need to pay over £55m. The article advises Chelsea to avoid a bidding war but suggests a structured package near the valuation could be sensible business.
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