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Chelsea have made Kerim Alajbegovic their next summer transfer target, according to Fabrizio Romano, as Maxence Lacroix heads for his medical.<\/p>\n
The Blues finished tenth in the Premier League last season as both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior were sacked during a turbulent campaign.<\/p>\n
Without European football next season, there had been worries that Chelsea<\/strong> would struggle to hold onto some of their best players this summer.<\/p>\n So far, only Marc Cucurella has left in a \u20ac60m move to Real Madrid with players like Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro believed to be untouchable this summer.<\/p>\n Chelsea are having no problem bringing players in with Geovany Quenda, Denner, Dastan Satpaev, Emmanuel Emegha, Marco Palestra and Morgan Rogers all joining this summer.<\/p>\n And now Chelsea are closing in on their seventh signing of the summer with Romano revealing yesterday that a deal for Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix is close.<\/p>\n READ: Chelsea finalise another \u2018historic\u2019 signing after Morgan Rogers \u2013 \u2018here we go\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Romano said on his YouTube channel:\u00a0\u201cYesterday I told you negotiations were progressing and now Maxence Lacroix is one step away from becoming a Chelsea player.<\/p>\n \u201cThe agreement with the player is fully completed. Personal terms are agreed and Lacroix is excited about joining Chelsea.<\/p>\n \u201cThe focus is now entirely on the club-to-club negotiations. There was a meeting in New York before the World Cup final and Chelsea and Crystal Palace are now working hard to reach the final agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe deal could be completed at any moment because everything on the player\u2019s side is already in place.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you exclusively yesterday that Crystal Palace had asked about Axel Disasi during discussions over Lacroix.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Disasi is not currently expected to be part of the deal. He is looking at different opportunities and is not understood to be keen on joining Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n \u201cI still expect this to be a straight negotiation for Lacroix rather than a swap arrangement.\u201d<\/p>\n The Athletic<\/em>\u2018s David Ornstein has revealed that Lacroix is having a \u2018medical\u2019 at Chelsea on Friday ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n READ: Chelsea, Man Utd target says \u2018yes\u2019 to Premier League transfer \u2013 but there is one problem<\/strong><\/p>\n Ornstein posted on X<\/em>: \u2018Maxence Lacroix set for medical today before joining Chelsea from Crystal Palace. ~\u00a352m deal being finalised\u2060. 26yo centre-back to sign #CFC contract until June 2032\u2060. Chibuike Nwaiwu among alternative #CPFC options to Chrislain Matsima @TheAthleticFC.\u2019<\/p>\n And now Romano has revealed that their next big target is Bayer Leverkusen winger Alajbegovic after getting the Lacroix signing over the line.<\/p>\n Romano added: \u201cKerim Alajbegovic is attracting Chelsea\u2019s attention. The winger returned to Bayer Leverkusen after the club activated their buy-back clause following his spell at Red Bull Salzburg.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has also impressed for Bosnia, including at the World Cup, and Chelsea have taken information on him.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a player Xabi Alonso already knew well from his time at Bayer Leverkusen and someone he has continued to monitor closely.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying Xabi Alonso has specifically requested the signing, but Alajbegovic is one of the names being discussed internally.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Chelsea, he would be a project signing for the future. Several Italian clubs are also pushing strongly because they can offer him more immediate first-team football.<\/p>\n \u201cAtalanta were interested, but there is currently no agreement between the clubs, allowing other Serie A sides to enter the race.<\/p>\n \u201cSo the decision will also depend on whether the player prefers Chelsea\u2019s long-term project or an immediate role in Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Arsenal, Liverpool targets and Man Utd star among five who could be stuck this summer\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\nIs Kerim Alajbegovic the next big Chelsea signing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n