It’s happening again. Chelsea are circling a player Arsenal want, and this time it’s Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. Just days after snatching Morgan Rogers from the Gunners’ grasp in a record £117m deal, the Blues have opened formal talks with Palace over a move for the France international.
Arsenal’s interest is real, but it hasn’t reached the same stage. And with William Saliba facing months on the sidelines, you’d think the Gunners would be moving faster.
Chelsea Aren’t Wasting Time
According to The Times, Chelsea have entered direct negotiations with Palace for Lacroix. The 26-year-old defender is valued at a minimum of £55m. Some reports from CaughtOffside suggest Palace could push the asking price closer to £65-70m if a bidding war develops.
TEAMtalk reported on July 19 that negotiations have reached a “crucial stage,” with Chelsea getting closer to matching Palace’s valuation. Personal terms between the player and Chelsea are believed to be already agreed.
Why the urgency? Xabi Alonso wants a quick, physically dominant centre-back to partner Levi Colwill. After missing out on Jan Paul van Hecke, who joined Tottenham for £52m, Chelsea turned their full attention to Lacroix.
Palace aren’t in any rush to sell, and that’s what makes this tricky. Lacroix has three years left on his deal. The Eagles are using van Hecke’s fee as their benchmark and feel they’re entitled to at least the same, if not more.
Here’s what makes Lacroix so attractive to top clubs:
- Ranked in the Premier League’s top 10 centre-backs last season for aerial duels won and defensive duels won
- 98 appearances across all competitions for Palace, chipping in with four goals and four assists
- FA Cup, Community Shield, and Conference League winner during his two years at Selhurst Park
- Seven senior France caps since his international debut earlier this year
He’s Premier League proven, still improving, and locked into a long contract. That combination doesn’t come cheap.
Why Arsenal Can’t Afford to Hesitate
Here’s the uncomfortable truth for Arsenal fans. William Saliba suffered a serious back injury during France’s World Cup semi-final loss to Spain on July 15. L’Equipe reported that the 25-year-old is expected to miss four to five months, potentially keeping him out until December.
Saliba had been battling the problem all season. He admitted as much before the tournament.
“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” Saliba told ESPN. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League.”
When Saliba went down in the 30th minute against Spain, it was Lacroix who replaced him. France’s defence fell apart after the switch, losing 2-0. That contrast alone tells you how valuable a defender of Lacroix’s calibre would be to Arsenal right now.
The Gunners are known to admire Lacroix, per multiple reports. But they haven’t advanced their interest to formal talks. With Chelsea already at the table, that gap could prove costly.
This Summer’s Wider Picture
The Morgan Rogers saga should serve as a warning. Arsenal made Rogers their top forward target this summer. Chelsea swooped in, agreed a £117m fee with Aston Villa, and sealed the deal. Rogers picked Stamford Bridge over the Emirates.
Now there’s a risk of history repeating with Lacroix.
Arsenal do have other irons in the fire. Reports link them with defenders like Luis Benedetti and Tino Livramento. But none carry the same Premier League pedigree as Lacroix.
Chelsea, for their part, are reshaping their squad aggressively under Alonso. They’re looking to offload Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah while bringing in players who fit their new manager’s vision. Lacroix ticks every box.
Can Arsenal still enter the race? Absolutely. Palace would love a bidding war. But the Gunners need to act, and quickly.
With Saliba potentially out until Christmas and Chelsea pushing hard, the clock is ticking on one of the summer’s most important defensive transfers. Arsenal’s title defence could depend on whether they’re willing to fight for Lacroix or let another target slip through their fingers.
