Chelsea hold formal talks to sign £55m Premier League star

Chelsea hold formal talks to sign £55m Premier League star Chelsea have stepped up their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.  According to Ben Jacobs , the Blues have held formal talks to sign Lacroix this summer.  They face competition from Aston Villa who are also keen on the player.  Lacroix has been earning rave reviews with his performances in the Premier League since joining Palace in the summer of 2024. He has made 98 appearances across all competitions, bagging four goals and four assists.  Lacroix was part of France’s World Cup squad and featured three times for the 2018 champion at the summer tournament.  The Eagles signed the Frenchman for £18m, but they now demand a fee worth £55m.  Jan Paul van Hecke joined Tottenham Hotspur for a similar fee, and they are using that transfer as a benchmark in their valuation of Lacroix.  With the centre-back under contract until 2029, the South Londoners are in a strong negotiating position.  Chelsea are looking to sell Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah before the end of the transfer window .  Manager Xabi Alonso is keen to add a quality defender and Lacroix has been identified as an ideal option.  Chelsea surprised everyone recently by agreeing a stunning £117m deal with Aston Villa to sign Morgan Rogers .  Arsenal made the England international their top target this summer, but their London rivals moved quickly to wrap up a deal.  Stats from Transfermarkt