Chelsea are preparing for the arrival of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix as the club seeks to strengthen its defensive line.
The London side recently secured England midfielder Morgan Rogers for a British‑record fee and added right‑back Marco Palestra and winger Geovany Quenda, yet central defence remains a priority after conceding 52 goals last season.
Palace have set a £55 million price for Lacroix, a French centre‑back who helped the club win the FA Cup, Europa Conference League and Community Shield during his two‑year spell.
Negotiations have accelerated since Lacroix returned from the World Cup, where he featured in three matches for France.
To replace Lacroix, Palace are reportedly in talks with Chelsea about a season‑long loan for defender Axel Disasi.
Disasi, 28, has not featured for Chelsea since early 2025 and spent the latter part of last season on loan at West Ham after a brief spell at Aston Villa.
Despite a solid showing at West Ham, the French international is deemed surplus to requirements ahead of the 2026/27 campaign and has three years remaining on his contract.
Since joining Chelsea from Monaco for £38.5 million in 2023, Disasi has made 61 appearances, contributed to the club’s 2025 Europa Conference League triumph and featured in the Carabao Cup final defeat.
Former West Ham teammate praised Disasi’s physical presence and league experience, noting his impact during the loan spell.
