Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign French defender Maxence Lacroix in a deal worth £52 million.
According to David Ornstein, the 26-year-old is expected to undergo a medical on Friday before completing his move to Stamford Bridge. Crystal Palace had initially valued the centre-back at more than £60 million but have now accepted a lower fee.
Lacroix is said to have favoured a move to Chelsea despite attracting interest from other clubs, with manager Xabi Alonso identifying him as a key addition to his squad. The Blues had also considered Real Madrid defender Jacobo Ramon but opted to prioritise Lacroix because of his Premier League experience.
The French international is expected to take a three-week break before linking up with Chelsea after an extended campaign that ended with France reaching the World Cup semi-finals.
His arrival is likely to increase competition for places in Chelsea’s defence, with the futures of Benoît
