Chelsea have identified Maxence Lacroix as a priority target and are ready to offer players to secure him.
The Blues are prepared to include a defender in their proposal for the Crystal Palace centre-back, talkSPORT reports, as Xabi Alonso pushes on with a defensive rebuild.
The interest reflects a busy summer at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have already signed Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda, while Marc Cucurella has left for Real Madrid.
Alonso wants further quality at the back, and Lacroix fits his preference for quick, ball-playing defenders. Palace, though, hold a strong hand.
The Frenchman has three years left on his contract, and reports suggest the Eagles want a fee above the £52m Tottenham paid Brighton for Jan Paul van Hecke. That valuation makes any deal expensive.
Chelsea offer defenders to Palace in Lacroix swap bid
To lower the cash cost, Chelsea have offered a choice of makeweights. Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have all been put forward as possible part-exchange options.
Chalobah’s inclusion is the most eye-catching, given his history with Palace. He impressed on loan at Selhurst Park in 2024-25 before Chelsea recalled him early to cover an injury crisis, a move that frustrated the Eagles at the time.
The player’s own wishes may scupper that reunion, however. According to Fabrizio Romano, Chalobah wants to move to Italy, with Inter leading the race and his representatives in Milan over personal terms. Chelsea value the academy graduate at around £35m.
Palace may prefer cash regardless. They are said to be lining up their own Lacroix replacement, rather than taking Chelsea’s surplus defenders, which could push Alonso towards a straight cash bid.
Lacroix, signed from Wolfsburg for around £15m in 2024, is currently away with France at the World Cup, where his form has only strengthened Chelsea’s admiration.
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