Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix position has sharpened after fresh reports claimed Chelsea are close to landing the France centre-back.
Football365 reported on Friday that Chelsea are close to signing Lacroix in a deal worth around £47million after the World Cup.
CaughtOffside has also reported that Palace are standing firm on a high valuation, with Football Insider cited as claiming the Eagles would demand at least £50million for the 26-year-old.
Lacroix Price Puts Palace In Control
That is the key Palace angle. Lacroix is not a distressed asset.
He joined from Wolfsburg in 2024, is tied to a long contract and has become one of the most valuable defensive pieces in a squad now balancing Premier League, Europa League and post-World Cup demands.
Fabrizio Romano has already reported that Chelsea have started talks for Lacroix, with the Stamford Bridge club expected to sign one or two centre-backs depending on outgoings.
That keeps the pressure on Chelsea, not Palace. Steve Parish can wait for a concrete bid rather than negotiate from noise.
Read Crystal Palace has already assessed why Lacroix’s Chelsea link has become a transfer test for Palace, and the latest numbers only sharpen that point.
The danger is obvious. If Lacroix pushes for the move after France’s World Cup run, Palace will need a replacement plan ready.
But at £47million-plus, this is now a valuation test as much as a transfer chase.
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