Crystal Palace ‘identify Chelsea star as Maxence Lacroix replacement’… days after Blues poached star

CRYSTAL PALACE are reportedly back at the negotiating table with Chelsea just days after selling them Maxence Lacroix. Palace have set their sights on a Blues defender to replace Lacroix, whose move to Stamford Bridge netted them £52million. Chelsea signed Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a £52m deal Credit: Getty Palace want to replace Lacroix with Axel Disasi, who is still on Chelsea’s books after a loan stint at West Ham Credit: Alamy But they are not the only team in the hunt. According to RMC Sport, Palace have made Axel Disasi their ‘priority’ centre-back target. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! The two clubs are said to be in discussions with a formal offer from Selhurst Park expected to follow. Disasi’s future has been up in the air since last season’s loan stint at West Ham ended in relegation. The Hammers have been desperate to bring Disasi with them to the Championship but signing him could be a tough ask with top-flight clubs also showing interest. A handful of Serie A sides are reportedly in the mix for the 28-year-old, who set Chelsea back an eye-watering £38.5million in 2023. But Palace now intend to move quickly to beat the competition, and may hope for some goodwill from Chelsea off the back of Lacroix’s sale. Disasi made 44 appearances in his first season at Chelsea but was later exiled to the infamous ‘Bomb Squad’, who were told they could either leave the club or train separately from the main group. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK The defender spent part of the 2024/25 season on loan at Aston Villa and the second half of last campaign at West Ham. Disasi’s CV boasts five caps for France and previous spells with Paris FC, Reims and Monaco. Comment now