All that chatter about Maxence Lacroix heading to Arsenal? Yeah, forget it. Fabrizio Romano just dropped the absolute hammer, and it turns out Chelsea has been firmly in the driver’s seat this entire time, making those Gooner rumors look like total smoke and mirrors. Seriously, the transfer guru himself says the Gunners aren’t even *currently* chasing this guy.
Lacroix’s Talent Is No Secret, But the Destination Is
Let’s be clear, Lacroix is a serious talent, so it’s no shock he’s a hot commodity. The Crystal Palace defender had an impressive run last season, even helping his club snag the Europa Conference League title. That kind of performance established him as one of the best defenders in England outside the big-name clubs. Plus, he’s been stepping in for William Saliba on the France national team when needed, and even getting selected over Ibrahima Konate. That shows a ton of confidence in his international game, big time. Reports had been swirling that Arsenal saw him as a top defensive target, a move to strengthen their squad at the Emirates. Chelsea was also in the mix, setting up what looked like a classic London transfer battle.
Romano Confirms Chelsea’s Dominance in the Race
But here’s where the story takes a turn, thanks to Fabrizio Romano. According to Football365, Romano basically shut down all the noise about Arsenal’s interest. He’s got Chelsea in “absolutely active and concrete talks with Crystal Palace” for Lacroix’s signature, straight up. He said, “All parties involved are talking, the ownership, agents of the player…” And for anyone still clinging to those Arsenal links? He flat out stated, “reports over the weekend of Arsenal getting involved at the moment are not true.” Ouch. It seems like Lacroix himself is “fully focused on joining Chelsea.”
So, while the transfer window is still open and things *could* technically shift if Arsenal suddenly decided to make a concrete play, the latest intel from Romano makes it crystal clear: Chelsea is leading the charge, and this guy looks destined for Stamford Bridge. Watch for those official announcements soon, because it sounds like this one is all but done.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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