All
World Cup
Soccer
Predictions
Match Reports
Chelsea ready to sell five as Maxence Lacroix passes medical
Chelsea FC are preparing for a significant defensive reshuffle after sources indicated the club is open to offers for five centre-backs, with Maxence Lacroix completing his medical in London ahead of a £52m move. The defender underwent tests on Saturday, and, according to Fabrizio Romano, the final paperwork between clubs is being exchanged with completion due this week.
The move for Lacroix is expected to accelerate an overhaul at the heart of Chelsea FC’s back line. Football Insider reports the club has informed intermediaries it will listen to offers for Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Mamadou Sarr. The plan, if sales materialise, is to lean on a core quartet of Maxence Lacroix, Josh Acheampong, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill for the new season.
Chelsea FC finished 10th in the Premier League last term after a turbulent campaign marked by change on and off the pitch. Despite the instability, the club has moved aggressively this summer. Six signings are already official: Geovany Quenda, Denner, Dastan Satpaev, Emmanuel Emegha, Marco Palestra and Morgan Rogers. Marc Cucurella has departed for Real Madrid, while speculation continues around potential exits elsewhere in the squad. Key attackers such as Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are considered untouchable.
Lacroix’s imminent arrival is designed to bring athleticism, recovery pace and aerial stability to the back line. His addition, however, also underscores the scale of Chelsea FC’s squad management challenge. Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson told Football Insider that the ownership model appears to favour buying in volume and then selling where possible — a strategy he argues can inflate wage costs and agent fees, particularly in the absence of a principal front-of-shirt sponsor. He suggested commercial headroom is effectively capped until a major partner is secured, adding pressure to trade efficiently in the market.
Among the potential outgoings, Trevoh Chalobah is the closest to the exit door. Multiple reports indicate Chelsea FC expect to finalise a deal with Serie A side Como 1907 in the coming hours. Any sale would help streamline the centre-back pool and open space for Academy talent like Josh Acheampong to compete alongside established options.
For Badiashile, Adarabioyo and Fofana, the next few weeks could be decisive. Chelsea FC want a balanced unit that blends Lacroix’s profile with the ball-winning and distribution of Disasi and Colwill, while also ensuring a sustainable wage structure for the Premier League campaign. With pre-season ramping up and registration deadlines approaching, the club is prioritising clarity in defensive roles.
If completed as expected, the Lacroix transfer will be Chelsea FC’s seventh incoming of the window and a clear signal that the rebuild is entering a decisive phase. The club’s aim is to reduce congestion at centre-back, reinforce tactical flexibility, and position the squad to climb the Premier League table after last season’s underperformance.
The move for Lacroix is expected to accelerate an overhaul at the heart of Chelsea FC’s back line. Football Insider reports the club has informed intermediaries it will listen to offers for Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Mamadou Sarr. The plan, if sales materialise, is to lean on a core quartet of Maxence Lacroix, Josh Acheampong, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill for the new season.
Chelsea FC finished 10th in the Premier League last term after a turbulent campaign marked by change on and off the pitch. Despite the instability, the club has moved aggressively this summer. Six signings are already official: Geovany Quenda, Denner, Dastan Satpaev, Emmanuel Emegha, Marco Palestra and Morgan Rogers. Marc Cucurella has departed for Real Madrid, while speculation continues around potential exits elsewhere in the squad. Key attackers such as Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are considered untouchable.
Lacroix’s imminent arrival is designed to bring athleticism, recovery pace and aerial stability to the back line. His addition, however, also underscores the scale of Chelsea FC’s squad management challenge. Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson told Football Insider that the ownership model appears to favour buying in volume and then selling where possible — a strategy he argues can inflate wage costs and agent fees, particularly in the absence of a principal front-of-shirt sponsor. He suggested commercial headroom is effectively capped until a major partner is secured, adding pressure to trade efficiently in the market.
Among the potential outgoings, Trevoh Chalobah is the closest to the exit door. Multiple reports indicate Chelsea FC expect to finalise a deal with Serie A side Como 1907 in the coming hours. Any sale would help streamline the centre-back pool and open space for Academy talent like Josh Acheampong to compete alongside established options.
For Badiashile, Adarabioyo and Fofana, the next few weeks could be decisive. Chelsea FC want a balanced unit that blends Lacroix’s profile with the ball-winning and distribution of Disasi and Colwill, while also ensuring a sustainable wage structure for the Premier League campaign. With pre-season ramping up and registration deadlines approaching, the club is prioritising clarity in defensive roles.
If completed as expected, the Lacroix transfer will be Chelsea FC’s seventh incoming of the window and a clear signal that the rebuild is entering a decisive phase. The club’s aim is to reduce congestion at centre-back, reinforce tactical flexibility, and position the squad to climb the Premier League table after last season’s underperformance.