Flashscore sources: Chelsea putting together plan for Lacroix transfer approach

[p]The France international is a high-priority target as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Blues[/a] go in search of a new signing for the centre of their defence ahead of next season.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/crystal-palace/AovF1Mia/"]Crystal Palace[/a] are believed to value [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lacroix-maxence/j5bGWFU7/"]Lacroix[/a] at £60 million and, after early explorations around the potential transfer, Chelsea remain cautious of meeting that figure.[/p][p][b]Flashscore sources suggest the ceiling on a deal at this point is closer to £50 million from a Chelsea perspective.[/b][/p][p]As of yet, no formal talks have taken place, but Lacroix is confirmed by insiders as a player very much in mind at the moment.[/p][p]It comes as Chelsea are also trying to make advances towards a deal for Granit Xhaka of Sunderland, who have turned down an initial £8 million approach. [/p][embed guid="31626eb4-196d-473a-bd67-baf8db293c3f" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2072301578548081006" social-type="twitter" /][p]Chelsea signed right-back Marco Palestra this week for almost £50 million from Atalanta and are aiming to strengthen the squad further ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alonso-xabi/hAcTWKKN/"]Xabi Alonso[/a]'s career as the new boss at Stamford Bridge.[/p][p]Lacroix is a player they already had on the radar, but Alonso is believed to be on board with the idea of trying to sign him.[/p][p]Chelsea are trying to show caution in terms of transfer fees at this moment, but Crystal Palace are unlikely to let Lacroix leave for much less than their valuation.[/p][p]One way around the cost could be to include fringe players in the deal to move in the opposite direction, and that is something that will be mooted.[/p][p]Meanwhile, Chelsea will also try to move ahead with their deal for Xhaka - but may suffer more frustration.[/p][p]Sunderland signed the player for £17 million last year, and at this stage, it does not even seem Chelsea would be willing to pay that same amount to take him down to London.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/transfer-news-live-tracker-updates/8QqUWm3n/"]Follow all the transfer news LIVE here this summer![/a][/b][/p][infobox id="f961102e-920a-4281-b5f2-f996852544cf" /]