£50m Premier League defender could be Xabi Alonso’s first Chelsea signing

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Chelsea fans have a new reason to be excited after a miserable season in the main, with Xabi Alonso the man tasked with taking the club forward.

Enzo Maresca’s departure and then the abysmal spell under Liam Rosenior appeared to have set the club back years.

However, Chelsea now have fresh reason for optimism, with Alonso the sort of young yet marquee manager the club’s owners have been searching for.

Indeed, with new signings expected under Alonso, it could well be one of Crystal Palace’s current top stars who lands at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea among teams leading chase for Maxence Lacroix

With Chelsea boasting an over-inflated squad that also lacks real quality in certain areas, there is expected to be a lot of movement this summer.

According to TeamTalk, one of those new signings could be Crystal Palace defender, Maxence Lacroix.

Lacroix has emerged as a star for Palace this season and his form has ensured the loss of Marc Guehi in January wasn’t felt nearly as much as some predicted.

However, that form has caught the eye of Premier League clubs and Chelsea are among the frontrunners to sign him, alongside Liverpool.

TeamTalk claim that Palace value Lacroix at at least the £50m mark and as things stand, they’re preparing a huge new contract offer to try and fend off interest.

Nevertheless, Chelsea’s and Liverpool’s interest will be a concern for Palace.

At the moment, Chelsea have a plethora of defenders on the books but they do seem to lack someone who can dominate like the other top teams seem to have.

Levi Colwill’s return from injury is a big plus while the Blues will be hoping that Wesley Fofana can keep fit following serious injury. Beyond that, though, the depth is low with the likes of Chalobah, Badiashille and Adarabioyo not quite living up to expectations.

Lacroix, then, will be a welcome addition if a deal is done.