Chelsea's push for Maxence Lacroix is being framed as a swap-style move rather than a straight cash deal. talkSPORT says Chelsea are willing to offer fringe players to help get a move over the line, while Crystal Palace have yet to receive any formal approach for the defender.

Chelsea's deal structure

The names linked to a possible package are Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashiele. The report says Chelsea would use one or more fringe players to help Palace agree to the transfer, which is a fairly clear sign they are trying to shape the deal around squad surplus rather than pure spending power.

Chelsea's urgency is also easy to see in the wider numbers. They have won only 1 of their last 5 matches and have conceded 8 goals across those same 5 games. That is not a complete explanation for the Lacroix interest, but it does fit the picture of a side looking for defensive help.

Palace, for their part, finished 15th in the Premier League and ended the season on 45 points. The club are already aware of Chelsea's interest and are said to be lining up Charlie Cresswell if Lacroix pushes for a move.

United and Fulham add more movement

The same report also says Manchester United are continuing to work on a return for Sam Johnstone, who came through the club's academy but never made a Premier League appearance during seven years on their books. That is a familiar sort of move, and one that would carry some history even before the football side of it is judged.

There is also a Fulham angle. Jose Mourinho spoke to Shahid Khan before Alvaro Arbeloa was approved as Marco Silva's replacement at Fulham, and Arbeloa is also said to want to bring as many as six backroom staff with him. Mourinho's endorsement gives that appointment a slightly different edge, even if it is still being treated as an incoming move rather than a finished one.

For Chelsea, the Lacroix pursuit looks like a deal built around flexibility. Palace have not received a formal bid yet, but they are already preparing for the possibility that one arrives.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →