Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a £52 million deal for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix as Xabi Alonso looks to bolster his defence. However, Blues legend Marcel Desailly has voiced his concerns over the transfer, questioning whether the French international possesses the elite experience required at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are on the verge of completing a £52 million deal for Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. The 26-year-old French international is set to undergo a medical before signing a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge, while Palace actively seek a replacement ahead of the new campaign.
The transfer window usually dominates the back pages during the summer, but that's rarely the case in tournament years as the market is forced to take a back seat. Business never sleeps, however, and several deals have gone under the radar during the 2026 World Cup. After five-and-a-half weeks and some 104 matches, the big event is finally over, which means attention can now turn to the comings and goings at club level.
Chelsea have been informed that they will need to pay £55 million to prise Maxence Lacroix away from Crystal Palace this summer. The France international defender has emerged as a primary target for the Blues as they look to reshape their backline under the guidance of new manager Xabi Alonso.
Como are reportedly on the verge of completing a deal for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah ahead of Crystal Palace and Inter. The ambitious Serie A side have moved quickly to secure the centre-back, offering him the chance to play under the guidance of Chelsea cult hero Cesc Fabregas.
Crystal Palace have moved to secure the long-term future of Jean-Philippe Mateta by offering the striker a new contract extension. The south London club are determined to tie down their star forward to prevent any risk of a cut-price departure or a future free transfer.
Inter have temporarily paused their pursuit of Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah to focus on other priorities, as the Premier League side await his departure before making a formal approach for Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. The Italian champions are carefully plotting their next moves in the transfer market while maintaining strong diplomatic relations with Como.
Nottingham Forest have officially confirmed the appointment of Oliver Glasner as the club's new head coach. The Austrian arrives at the City Ground with a massive reputation following a trophy-laden stint at Crystal Palace and is reportedly set to become one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League.
Trevoh Chalobah has prioritised a move to Italy despite attracting interest from the Premier League. Inter have stepped up talks over personal terms, while Chelsea could also use the defender in negotiations with Crystal Palace as they pursue Maxence Lacroix this summer.
Nottingham Forest have officially sacked manager Vitor Pereira after exercising a break clause in his contract, paving the way for former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner to take charge. The surprise departure ends Pereira's tenure after he successfully kept the club in the Premier League and reached a Europa League semi-final, with Glasner now set to become their fifth manager in under a year.
Nottingham Forest have once again lived up to their reputation for managerial volatility by parting ways with Vitor Pereira in truly dramatic fashion. Despite steering the club to Premier League safety and a deep European run last season, the Portuguese coach has been ruthlessly moved aside to make way for former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
Oliver Glasner is poised to make a sensational return to the Premier League as the new head coach of Nottingham Forest. The former Crystal Palace manager will succeed Vitor Pereira at the City Ground, marking yet another managerial change for the ambitious club following a dramatic late termination of the Portuguese coach's contract ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Chelsea are preparing to accelerate their pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix as they look to bolster their defensive options for next season. At the same time, the club could part ways with Trevoh Chalobah, who is attracting serious interest from Serie A side Como, to help fund the move for Lacroix before incoming manager Xabi Alonso arrives.
Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as they continue reshaping their squad under Roberto De Zerbi. The north London club view the England international as a key target, while reports linking Spurs with a move for Mason Greenwood have been dismissed.
The Premier League fixture list for 2026-27 has been released. Arsenal will be looking to defend their title, while the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United have sights locked on the ultimate prize. Coventry are back in the big time after a 25-year absence, while several managerial changes mean that new eras are being ushered in across the division. Here, GOAL picks out the most notable matches from what promises to be another thrilling top-flight campaign.
Daichi Kamada has praised the profound impact of his former Crystal Palace and Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner after scoring a crucial late equaliser for Japan against the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup. The midfielder credited the tactician for his successful transition into a deeper defensive role, which has revitalised his international career in the United States.
Crystal Palace have confirmed the appointment of Pierre Sage as their new first-team manager following his departure from Lens. The Frenchman arrives at Selhurst Park on a three-year contract after a spectacular rise that saw him transform the fortunes of two historical Ligue 1 giants in record time.
Crystal Palace have moved decisively to secure their next managerial appointment, reaching an agreement with ex-Lens head coach Pierre Sage. The Frenchman, who led Lens to the Coupe de France title and a runners-up finish in Ligue 1 last season, is set to succeed Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park on a three-year contract.
The Premier League has announced a comprehensive suite of mandatory law changes and officiating guidelines ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Developed in tandem with PGMOL and informed by an extensive annual football survey, the updates heavily target time-wasting tactics while refining the threshold for video assistant referee interventions.
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is taking his time to finalise the club's next managerial appointment despite holding a draft agreement with Oliver Glasner. The Rossoneri hierarchy are widening their search to consider alternative profiles, including former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and Alvaro Arbeloa, to find a specific technical vision.
Crystal Palace have moved quickly to secure their next managerial appointment following the departure of Oliver Glasner. The Eagles have reached an agreement in principle with RC Lens head coach Pierre Sage to take the reins at Selhurst Park.
Oliver Glasner has emerged as AC Milan’s leading managerial candidate after a lengthy meeting with owner Gerry Cardinale and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Austrian is understood to be intrigued by the prospect of working in Serie A, although Fulham are also monitoring his situation as they search for a potential successor to Marco Silva.
Brad Friedel has - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - sought to play down expectations around “poster boy” Christian Pulisic, but considers four other players to sit alongside ‘Captain America’ in the USMNT’s “undroppable” pool. The United States are considered to be working with a ‘Golden Generation’ of talent as a home World Cup is taken in.
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Crystal Palace
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