---
title: "Chelsea Step Up Chase For Maxence Lacroix As Crystal Palace Wait For Bid"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2026/06/25/chelsea-maxence-lacroix-crystal-palace-bid/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Crystal Palace News"
published: "2026-06-25T08:23:57Z"
modified: "2026-06-25T08:24:02Z"
---

# Chelsea Step Up Chase For Maxence Lacroix As Crystal Palace Wait For Bid

Chelsea are preparing to advance their interest in Crystal Palace centre-back **Maxence Lacroix**, putting the Eagles on alert for a formal summer approach.

According to [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/06/24/crystal-palace-defender-key-chelsea-target-como-chalobah/), the Stamford Bridge club are ready to push harder for Lacroix as they reshape their defence under Xabi Alonso. The [Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-transfer-news-lacroix-b1287286.html) has also reported Chelsea interest, with centre-back understood to be a priority area.

That is a sharper development than the earlier monitoring phase. Read Crystal Palace [covered Chelsea’s initial Lacroix link](https://readcrystalpalace.com/2026/06/23/crystal-palace-maxence-lacroix-chelsea-transfer-target-2/) earlier this week, but the latest noise suggests the story is edging towards an opening negotiation.

> [https://x.com/JacobSteinberg/status/2069883684878950475](https://x.com/JacobSteinberg/status/2069883684878950475)

## Palace Hold Contract Leverage As Chelsea Circle

Palace are not in a weak position. Lacroix still has three years left on his deal, and that contract runway gives the club room to demand a serious fee rather than react to pressure from the market.

The 26-year-old has become one of the key pillars of Palace’s defensive structure, combining recovery pace with front-foot aggression in a back three. Losing him would immediately create a recruitment problem for Pierre Sage, especially with European football also on the calendar.

Chelsea may see Lacroix as Premier League-ready cover with the profile to compete immediately. Palace, though, can frame any bid around scarcity: an established France international, entering peak years, tied down beyond 2026 and already central to the Selhurst Park rebuild.

Unless Chelsea move with a fee that reflects all of that, Palace have every reason to wait.