{"id":19329,"date":"2026-07-20T20:41:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T20:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=19329"},"modified":"2026-07-20T20:41:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T20:41:23","slug":"chelsea-step-up-pursuit-for-crystal-palace-star-maxence-lacroix-as-eagles-demand-60m-fee-with-club-chiefs-meeting-in-new-york-ahead-of-world-cup-final-over-wantaway-defender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=19329","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea step up pursuit for Crystal Palace star Maxence Lacroix as Eagles demand \u00a360m fee &#8211; with club chiefs meeting in New York ahead of World Cup final over wantaway defender"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"js-article-text\" wp_automatic_readability=\"69.5\">\n<p class=\"author-section byline-plain\">By SIMON JONES <\/p>\n<p class=\"byline-section\"><span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-published\"> <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Published:<\/span> <time datetime=\"2026-07-20T19:59:41+0100\">  19:59 BST, 20 July 2026 <\/time> <\/span>  | <span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-updated\"> <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Updated:<\/span> <time datetime=\"2026-07-20T20:38:32+0100\">  20:38 BST, 20 July 2026 <\/time> <\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v8\/de\/sport\/football\/article\/other\/para_top.html --> <!-- CWV --><link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-design-system\/latest\/designTokens.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/><!--(if !IE)><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-async-bundle\/11.89.1\/articleDefer.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<!(endif)--> <!--(if IE)>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/registration--.css\" media=\"screen\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.6.0\/registration--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<!(endif)--><!--(if IE)>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/all-ie8-9--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/1.17.0\/all1-ie8-9--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/>\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)><!--> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-sync-bundle\/16.12.0\/desktop.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.6.0\/all--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/><link href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/18.6.0\/all1--.css\" media=\"all\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" \/> <!--<!(endif)--> <!--(if IE 8)>\n\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if IE 9)>\n\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if IE)>\n\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)> -->  <!--<!(endif)--><!-- SiteCatalyst code version: H.20.3.\n    Copyright 1997-2009 Omniture, Inc. More info available at\n    http:\/\/www.omniture.com -->  <\/p>\n<p>         <!-- End SiteCatalyst code version: H.20.3. -->  <!--(if IE)>\n\n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)> -->   <!--<!(endif)--><!--(if IE)>\n  \n  <noscript><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/gunther\/gunther-2159\/video_bundle--.css\"><\/noscript>\n  \n<!(endif)--> <!--(if !IE)> --> <link rel=\"preload\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/videoplayer\/7.18.0\/styles\/mol-fe-videoplayer.min.css\" as=\"style\" onload=\"this.rel=\" stylesheet=\"\" \/> <noscript><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/static\/videoplayer\/7.18.0\/styles\/mol-fe-videoplayer.min.css\" \/><\/noscript>  <!-- <!(endif)-->\n          <link rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" href=\"https:\/\/scripts.dailymail.co.uk\/static\/mol-fe\/static\/mol-fe-xpmodule-related-story-factbox\/2.6.0\/styles.css\" \/>\n<p>          <!-- CWV --><\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\" wp_automatic_readability=\"42.703798054655\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Chelsea are working towards agreement on a fee for Maxence Lacroix as Crystal Palace push for \u00a360million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Palace have been holding out for maximum profit on the France international defender who is ready to leave this window.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali and Palace chairman Steve Parish who were in New York for the World Cup final met at the Aman Hotel near Central Park on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Chelsea were understood to be offering around \u00a355m but may go to \u00a360m with bonuses as the clubs look to finalise the agreement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-italic\">Daily Mail Sport <\/span>revealed Chelsea had revisited their interest in the 26-year-old early this summer and they are determined to get the defender who cost Palace \u00a318m from Wolfsburg but has been an outstanding performer in the Premier League and Europe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Lacroix&#8217;s potential move to Stamford Bridge comes after <span class=\"mol-style-italic\">Daily Mail Sport<\/span> reported that Italian side Como are willing to offer \u00a335m for Chelsea centre back Trevoh Chalobah as talks continue over his future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-19b6282dc54016e5\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/20\/19\/110144091-15991685-image-a-28_1784573273913.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Chelsea are working towards agreement on a fee for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Chelsea are working towards agreement on a fee for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-6b176cf6b0e76ae0\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/20\/19\/110144093-15991685-image-a-29_1784573351245.jpg\" height=\"418\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Palace want \u00a360m for Lacroix, who has been on World Cup duty with France over recent weeks\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Palace want \u00a360m for Lacroix, who has been on World Cup duty with France over recent weeks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"\" wp_automatic_readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-fbecf847af635d08\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/20\/20\/110144797-15991685-image-m-2_1784576209009.jpg\" height=\"368\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, right, with Mick Jagger and family at Sunday's final\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, right, with Mick Jagger and family at Sunday&#8217;s final<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-italic\"><\/span>Chalobah has been on World Cup duty with England and made a fleeting appearance against France on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Como had been rebuffed in their opening two proposals for the 27-year-old and are working to meet Chelsea&#8217;s valuation with a structured offer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Inter Milan have also discussed Chalobah as they want two centre backs but Como are hopeful they can conclude a deal for Cesc Fabregas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Meanwhile,\u00a0Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers was also due for his medical at Chelsea\u00a0on Monday after flying back from the World Cup after England&#8217;s third-place play-off victory over France.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-italic\">Daily Mail Sport <\/span>reported yesterday that Rogers&#8217;s former club Middlesbrough will pocket around \u00a320.2million from Morgan Rogers&#8217; \u00a3117m transfer to Chelsea, which would represent a record sell-on fee in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <!-- ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v8\/de\/sport\/football\/article\/other\/inread_player.html --><\/p>\n<div class=\"column-content cleared\">\n<div class=\"shareArticles\">\n<h3 class=\"social-links-title\">Share or comment on this article:<br \/>\n                        Chelsea step up pursuit for Crystal Palace star Maxence Lacroix as Eagles demand \u00a360m fee &#8211; with club chiefs meeting in New York ahead of World Cup final over wantaway defender<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            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