Chelsea in formal talks to sign Maxence Lacroix for £52m

Chelsea are advancing in their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, aiming to add the French international to a squad already bolstered by the club-record signing of Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers. The moves signal an aggressive start to the summer transfer window under new manager Xabi Alonso.

The club has reportedly held formal talks with Crystal Palace regarding Lacroix, with negotiations centering on a fee in the region of 55 million pounds. Some reports indicate Chelsea's latest offer stands at 52 million pounds, leaving a narrow gap to meet Palace's valuation. The defender's contract runs until 2029, and Palace are said to be tough negotiators, using the recent sale of Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham Hotspur as a benchmark for their asking price.

This defensive push follows Chelsea's monumental agreement to sign England international Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a British-record fee of 117 million pounds, a deal that hijacked rival interest from Arsenal. A medical for Rogers has been scheduled. These potential acquisitions would continue a significant spending trend at Stamford Bridge, particularly on defenders. Since the current ownership took over...