Chelsea’s summer business looks to be starting to come into more focus, with defense now appearing to be a major part of the club’s transfer thinking.
After a season where injuries, inconsistent partnerships and team uncertainty caused problems for the backline, the Blues appear ready to add another centre-back who can either improve the squad immediately or develop into a long-term option.
The main update came from The Athletic, who reported that Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix is Chelsea’s main defensive target, with Como’s Jacobo Ramon also praised.
The interest makes sense, as Chelsea need a defender who is comfortable defending space, quick enough to play high lines and strong enough to handle Premier League forwards.
Chelsea need more speed and power in defense
LaCroix looks like a more off-the-shelf option.
Crystal Palace confirmed he would join from Wolfsburg on a five-year deal in 2024 and has since gained valuable experience in the Premier League.
talkSPORT also reported that Chelsea are targeting a French defender and could include players such as Trevor Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel DiSasi and Benoît Badiashire in a swap deal.
This could be important as Palace is unlikely to sell cheaply.
The Sun also claimed that Chelsea were considering an offer for the player as part of a deal, although formal negotiations had not begun at the time of reporting.
Blues are looking for young, long-term players
Ramon will have a completely different contract. The Spanish centre-back is young and has little experience in English football, but he has an interesting profile.
Yahoo Sports report that Chelsea are interested in the Como defender, who is part-owned by Real Madrid after his move from Spain.
If Chelsea want to upgrade their defense immediately, they should prioritize Premier League-ready options.
The team already has a lot of young players who need time, so adding another project defender may not solve the short-term problem.
That being said, the price should be reasonable. If Palace demand a huge fee, Chelsea should consider a swap deal rather than overpaying.
Overall, stronger, faster and more consistent defense can make a bigger difference than any other offensive sign, so this is a wise area to target.
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