Chelsea transfer news: Xabi Alonso to complete £47.5m signing after World Cup as 'everything accelerates'

Chelsea are expected to seal the €55m (£47.5m) signing of Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix pursuing the World Cup, according to a report.

The Blues person made accelerated advancement successful their efforts to motion the erstwhile Wolfsburg defender, who has played a captious relation successful the Eagles' trophy-winning exploits nether Oliver Glasner.

Lacroix started 14 games for Palace during their tally to Conference League glory past season, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist, portion playing a staggering 55 times successful full crossed each tournaments.

It was reported earlier this week that Chelsea had made speedy advancement successful talks for Lacroix, who is presently distant representing France astatine the 2026 World Cup.

The 26-year-old made his Mundial debut connected Friday, playing the afloat 90 successful France's 4-1 triumph implicit Norway, which sent Les Bleus done to the past 32 arsenic radical winners.

Didier Deschamps's broadside volition present instrumentality connected Sweden successful their archetypal knockout lucifer connected Tuesday evening, erstwhile Lacroix is expected to suffer his spot successful the XI to Arsenal's William Saliba.

Maxence Lacroix 'expected' to implicit £47.5m Chelsea transfer

According to L'Equipe, the Palace defender is present edging ever person to joining Chelsea, arsenic 'everything is accelerating' for him to determination to Stamford Bridge erstwhile France's World Cup travel ends.

Lacroix volition bring invaluable familiarity with Xabi Alonso's preferred three-man antiaircraft system, having shone successful a 3-4-2-1 nether Glasner astatine Selhurst Park for the past mates of years.

Lacroix has go an FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League victor since joining Palace successful 2024, erstwhile the Eagles forked retired £15.5m to motion him from Wolfsburg.

The France planetary has since produced 4 goals and 4 assists from 98 appearances for Crystal Palace successful each tournaments, and his declaration astatine Selhurst Park does not expire until 2029.

Which Chelsea defenders could Maxence Lacroix replace?

Lacroix would beryllium expected to instantly slot into Chelsea's archetypal XI, astir apt alongside Levi Colwill and either Trevoh Chalobah oregon Wesley Fofana if Alonso adopts a backmost three.

Lacroix's accomplishment could spell atrocious quality for Tosin Adarabioyo, who astatine 28 is 1 of the much experienced members of the Chelsea squad, but 1 who started conscionable 8 Premier League games past season.

Former Monaco teammates Benoit Badiashile - who made conscionable 8 top-flight appearances successful full successful 2025-26 - and Axel Disasi, returning from his indebtedness spell astatine West Ham United, volition besides beryllium connected the chopping artifact this summer.

As good arsenic Lacroix, Chelsea person reportedly made different Crystal Palace prima a 'priority' signing up of their archetypal Premier League lucifer against Fulham connected August 24.