\n<\/p>\n
Chelsea are inching closer to a \u00a352m deal for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, in a big shift in BlueCo\u2019s transfer policy.<\/p>\n
When the 6ft 4in centre-back swapped Wolfsburg for Palace back in the summer of 2024, to reunite with former boss Oliver Glasner, he could not contain his excitement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really happy to be here and arrive at this good team,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cI watched Palace\u2019s last games and I was really happy for the coach, because I\u2019d played under him before. I think it\u2019s the right moment to move to the Premier League.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u00a318m move more than paid off as the Frenchman became a history-maker, helping Palace to their first major trophies: the FA Cup in 2025 and Conference League in 2026.<\/p>\n
Before he wrote himself into Palace folklore, Lacroix also set his sights on getting capped for his country for the first time.<\/p>\n
READ: Rogers \u2018joined the wrong club\u2019 \u2013 but \u2018tailor-made\u2019 club decided not to bid<\/strong><\/p>\n He confidently told The Guardian<\/em>\u201cOne day I will be in a national team \u2013 I know. But right now it\u2019s to look at what\u2019s happening in Crystal Palace, the semi-final and win this Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n The former Sochaux achieved another milestone this year by playing for France for the first time and then representing them at this summer\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n In late June, Lacroix was linked with Chelsea, who had outlined him as one of their top defensive targets.<\/p>\n Now, Fabrizio Romano<\/em> states that the 26-year-old has completed his medical at the Stamford Bridge outfit ahead of a \u00a352m transfer.<\/p>\n Conversely, he adds that Stade Brest centre-back Raphael Le Guen will head to Selhurst Park, with the 19-year-old potentially acting as a direct replacement.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Chelsea: Gallas tells Blues they \u2018have to get\u2019 Arsenal centre-back target after Lacroix transfer<\/strong><\/p>\n For Palace, it is becoming a familiar story. Develop top class players such as Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, and Marc Guehi and then sell them for sizeable fees, as they flourish elsewhere.<\/p>\n Lacroix will hope to follow their lead, as Chelsea make an about turn on a policy that has been in place for several years under BlueCo.<\/p>\n Indeed, he will be the first deal since the summer of 2022 where Chelsea have paid a transfer fee for a player aged 26 or over. It appears that a newfound willingness to invest in experience, alongside their youthful offerings, is coming into action.<\/p>\n If Lacroix does sign, he will compete with the likes of Levi Colwill, 23, Trevoh Chalobah, 27, Mamadou Sarr, 20, Tosin Adarabioyo, 28, and Jorrel Hato, 20, in Chelsea\u2019s defence.<\/p>\n It remains to be seen if the Blues will continue to sign players 26 and over this summer or if Lacroix will be a test run for this new Xabi Alonso era.<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Chelsea: Alonso plots stunning \u00a370m Liverpool raid \u2013 shock report<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\nChelsea change strategy with Lacroix pursuit<\/strong><\/h2>\n