Chelsea have intensified their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, with talks between the two clubs' ownership groups described as positive. Palace had hoped to tie the 26-year-old down to a new contract, but he is reportedly keen on a fresh challenge, putting the Eagles in a position where they must negotiate a sale rather than a renewal. A departure would be significant for Palace, who would lose a key part of the side that won the Conference League in May, while for Chelsea it continues a summer focused on adding Premier League-proven quality.

Palace are understood to want a minimum of £60m for Lacroix, who has three years left on his current deal and has made 98 appearances since joining from Wolfsburg for up to £18m in August 2024. The France international is already being lined up for replacement, with Augsburg's Chrislain Matsima among those being monitored. Chelsea, meanwhile, are also close to a separate £117m deal for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, and a successful move for Lacroix would further cloud the future of centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, who has attracted interest from Como.