Chelsea are now progressing towards the signing of Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix, who could also join Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.
Palace enjoyed another season to remember in 2025-26, winning the European Cup for the first time in their history, and Lacroix was one of the most important players, making 52 appearances in all competitions.
35 of those came in the Premier League, with the Frenchman scoring the second highest of any outfield player in Oliver Glasner's squad, and the Austrian praised him highly.
Glasner says: “He plays in an amazing, consistent way. The level he shows is really high and we can count on him.”
Maxence Lacroix's Premier League stats for 2025-26
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3,087 minutes played
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42.6 accurate passes out of 90
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10.9 defensive contributions per 90
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1.3 out of 90
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2 fines received
The 26-year-old then went on to represent France in the World Cup, where he played three matches, and his team finished in fourth place after losing 6-4 to England in the third place qualifier.
Chelsea are progressing in the signing of Maxence Lacroix
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Chelsea are now close to agreeing to a fee for Lacroix, after making an offer of £52m for the Palace defender, and negotiations have been ongoing.
However, the deal is not over the line yet, as it is still possible that the Blues will look to send the player elsewhere to reduce spending.
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Should Chelsea sign Maxence Lacroix? |
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|---|---|
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Benefits |
Evil |
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He has experience in the Premier League, having spent the last two seasons with Palace |
However, he will prove himself in the Champions League |
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It does not suffer from injuries |
£52m would be a lot of money |
|
He may be in the prime of his career at the age of 26 |
Still not a sure start for France |
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It was a defensive unit that conceded fewer goals in the Premier League than Chelsea last season |
It would be his first big move |
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He knows what it takes to win trophies, having won three with Crystal Palace |
He has a habit of letting go of penalties |
Morgan Rogers may also join Maxence Lacroix
Chelsea have also closed in on another Premier League star alongside Lacroix, with David Ornstein revealing they have agreed a £117m deal for the Aston Villa star, in a move away from London rivals Arsenal.
He is scheduled to undergo a medical on Monday, and new manager Xabi Alonso is said to have been instrumental in securing the England international's signing.
Rogers notched 10 goals and seven assists for Villa last season, and played a key role in Unai Emery's side's return to the Champions League, making him a statement signing for the Blues.
After securing the signature of the 23-year-old, Alonso's side could be looking to strengthen their midfield, and the reason for their interest in AS Roma star Manu Kone has been revealed.
