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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
Jul 21 2026 00:48 · By Simon Jones · 11 Reads
Chelsea are working towards agreement on a fee for Maxence Lacroix as
Crystal Palace
push for £60million.
Palace have been holding out for maximum profit on the France international defender who is ready to leave this window.
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.
Chelsea were understood to be offering around £55m but may go to £60m with bonuses as the clubs look to finalise the agreement.
Daily Mail Sport
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 £18m from Wolfsburg but has been an outstanding performer in the Premier League and Europe.
Lacroix's potential move to Stamford Bridge comes after
reported
that Italian side Como are willing to offer £35m for Chelsea centre back Trevoh Chalobah as talks continue over his future.
Chelsea are working towards agreement on a fee for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix
Palace want £60m for Lacroix, who has been on World Cup duty with France over recent weeks
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, right, with Mick Jagger and family at Sunday's final
Chalobah has been on World Cup duty with England and made a fleeting appearance against France on Saturday.
Como had been rebuffed in their opening two proposals for the 27-year-old and are working to meet Chelsea's valuation with a structured offer.
Inter Milan
have also discussed Chalobah as they want two centre backs but Como are hopeful they can conclude a deal for
Cesc Fabregas
.
Meanwhile,
Aston Villa
midfielder Morgan Rogers was also due for his medical at
Chelsea
on Monday after flying back from the World Cup after England's third-place play-off victory over France.
reported yesterday that Rogers's former club
Middlesbrough
will pocket around £20.2million from Morgan Rogers' £117m transfer to Chelsea, which would represent a record sell-on fee in the
Premier League