Chelsea have moved to the next phase of a summer defensive overhaul with reported interest in Crystal Palace centre back Maxence Lacroix.

BBC Sport has reported Lacroix is now considered a “key target” as new manager Xabi Alonso prepares to reshape the squad and increase defensive depth. The 26-year-old has produced two strong seasons in the Premier League since his move to England in 2024, having earlier spent four seasons in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.

Lacroix’s form earned him a senior France callup in March, seven years after his last involvement with the U20s, and Didier Deschamps included him in his World Cup squad. He is yet to play at the World Cup but is part of a group of centre backs that includes William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté and Lucas Hernandez, on a level with Champions League-calibre defenders.

Pursuing a 26-year-old such as Lacroix marks a notable shift from Chelsea’s recent recruitment drive, which focused heavily on very young players. Last summer João Pedro was the club’s oldest new signing at 23, Liam Delap was the only other recruit to have reached 21, and several arrivals were teenagers. That approach, driven by BlueCo since 2022, left the squad lighter on senior experience despite the financial rationale.

A promising start to 2025–26 gave way to a collapse that ended with Chelsea in 10th place. In December 2025, shortly before his sudden exit, former manager Enzo Maresca signalled the need for more experience in the dressing room. “When you have 20 and 21-year-olds and a player who is 30 or 31, and he starts to say something to them, it’s invaluable. But [young players] is the strategy of the club,” Maresca said at the time.

Alonso’s appointment as ‘manager,’ rather than ‘head coach,’ will give him greater influence over recruitment. Chelsea aim to boost defensive depth and build experience; that could lead to several departures. Trevoh Chalobah has been linked with Como, while Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo could also move on. Full back Malo Gusto is attracting interest from Manchester City, though The Times report Chelsea value him at £75 million, suggesting they do not plan to sell despite having Reece James and, imminently, Palestra on the books.

Real Madrid have identified Enzo Fernández as their primary midfield target this summer as the club prepares to prioritise a playmaker in the transfer market. While president Florentino Pérez has stirred debate about a possible “Galáctico” forward signing such as Michael Olise or Julián Alvarez, remaining funds are expected to be directed toward a deep-lying creator.

The Athletic reports Fernández is Mourinho’s “preferred choice” to boost the centre of the pitch, with Chelsea said to be open to selling the 25-year-old Argentina international for around £120 million. Fernández—who got himself into trouble at Chelsea previously for openly flirting with Real Madrid—has long been admired at the Bernabéu, and the player is reportedly ready to leave Stamford Bridge.

Other midfield options under consideration include Matheus Fernandes, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Kees Smit, but Fernández is widely viewed as the top candidate. The urgency to fund a large transfer means Madrid are expected to approve at least one significant departure. Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni are all listed as possible exits, with Tchouaméni the likeliest to command a fee large enough to offset a deal. AS suggest the Frenchman, who has already attracted interest from Manchester United this summer, could be the club’s “major sale”.

Fernández has been deployed in varied roles for Chelsea this season, combining deeper duties with more advanced positions and contributing 15 goals in all competitions. With Argentina he operates as a two-way, box-to-box midfielder, providing support to Lionel Messi and the attacking line.

At Real Madrid he would be expected to operate as one of two pivots behind Jude Bellingham in Mourinho’s preferred 4–2–3–1, although debate remains over who would provide the more defensive balance should Tchouaméni depart. The club’s lack of a clear natural defensive midfielder complicates squad planning.

Meanwhile, Madrid’s interest in Fernández appears to have affected Nico Paz. After a season on loan at Como, a €9 million buyback had been anticipated, but AS now reports Paz has been told he can expect to remain in Italy for another year.

Chelsea supporters are waiting for preseason to see how Xabi Alonso will shape the team. The club’s summer business has already hinted at the manager’s intentions: deals to sign Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha and midfielder Valentín Barco have been agreed, though only Emegha’s move is officially confirmed so far.

Sources first revealed the club has outbid Inter to sign Atalanta right back Marco Palestra, with Alonso said to have made direct contact to persuade the 21-year-old. The finishing touches are being put on a deal that is expected to cost Chelsea an initial €57 million ($64.9 million, £49.2 million), plus a further €3 million ($3.4 million, £2.6 million) in add-ons.

Palestra delivered a breakthrough season on loan at Cagliari in 2025–26, making 37 appearances and earning the division’s award for best defender. The majority of his minutes came as a right wing back, where he contributed one goal and four assists while maintaining his defensive duties. Across those 37 appearances, 33 came as a wing back — 31 on the right and two on the left. He was used as a traditional right back three times and played a total of 79 minutes as a left back.

Those usage patterns point strongly to a wing back role at Stamford Bridge, which would align with a 3-4-2-1 system many expect under Alonso. Chelsea already possess options at right back in Reece James and Malo Gusto, but formation changes would reshape those roles. There are questions about James’s physical capability to sustain such a demanding position after years of injury struggles, while Gusto is reportedly considering his future.

Palestra has emphasised his versatility. “If I have a choice, I obviously prefer the right, but I’m equally comfortable on the left and have no problems,” Palestra reflected to DAZN earlier this summer. “Playing with both right and left foot is a matter of practice; the more I felt left-footed, the better I got.

“There are things where I think I can do better with my left foot, and then shoot with my right. But it’s something that comes naturally to me, going after a man with my left.”

Whether he replaces Marc Cucurella directly or fills another wing back vacancy, the evidence points to Palestra arriving as a wing back rather than a traditional full back.