CHELSEA are closing in on the transfer of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix after agreeing a deal of just over £52m ($69.2m) for the French centre-back.
Lacroix is expected to be on Blues territory this week to conduct a medical ahead of signing a six-year deal keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2032. The 26-year-old had a stunning 55 appearances for Palace last term in all competitions bagging three goals and as many assists.
He was a massive part of Crystal’s Conference League winning campaign and played a part in their Community Shield win against Liverpool.
During this period he was handed call-ups by France for the World Cup and managed three appearances. The Frenchman was a priority target at a number of centre-backs Chelsea had lined up for this window and believe they have their man with fellow Como defender Jacobo Ramon also fancied.
Palace are already on the hunt for his replacement, with the German-based Augsburg player Chirsialain Matsima’s name on the top of the list while Trabzonspor’s Nigerian Chibuike Nwaiwu is being considered as back up.
Lacroix’s arrival is now likely to mean significant shifts in the defence at the Bridge with several defenders now uncertain to their futures given the pressure for starting berths due to Chelsea’s ambitions.
