Chelsea ready to break transfer rule to sign Lacroix from Crystal Palace

Chelsea are considering signing Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, which would break their policy of not paying transfer fees for players aged 26 or over — a rule in place since the ill-fated summer 2022 purchases of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly. Lacroix is seen as a sufficiently exceptional target to justify relaxing the rule.