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Crystal Palace are reportedly eyeing Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell as a potential replacement for Maxence Lacroix. Lacroix looks likely to be headed for the exit door at Selhurst Park as Chelsea look to sign the French centre-back.
What's happening with Lacroix?
Fabrizio Romano reports that the west London outfit have started talks to bring the 26-year-old to Stamford Bridge. Palace sold Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January for £20m, and losing Lacroix will be a massive blow.
Who is Charlie Cresswell?
Cresswell joined Toulouse from Leeds back in July 2024 for £3.8m, and he's been a mainstay in the French team ever since. Last season, he made 32 appearances across competitions, even posting four goals and three assists.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Cresswell | 32 | 4 | 3 |
Why is Cresswell a good fit?
Newly-appointed Eagles boss Pierre Sage will have been keen on working with the player who earned a call-up to France's squad for the World Cup. Cresswell's powerful profile and "warrior" playing style could be a good fit for Crystal Palace.
As of 26 Jun 2026, Crystal Palace are 15th in the Premier League with 45 points from 38 games, and have a recent form of LDLDL. Their last result was a 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano on 2026-05-27. The team has scored 41 goals and conceded 51, with a goal difference of -10. They are 40 points behind leaders Arsenal.
What comes next?
Palace could sign the former England U21 international "if the price is right," and he's viewed as an ideal replacement for Lacroix. There is a possibility that the South London outfit sticks with their current options. Chadi Riad has been excellent since returning from injury and has been a standout performer for Morocco at the World Cup. Jaydee Canvot stepped up following Guehi's departure and earned a regular starting berth in Oliver Glasner's side. He partnered Lacroix and the always consistent Chris Richards in defence.
Crystal Palace have more players at the World Cup than Real Madrid. Cresswell could be a solid addition to Sage's squad, but shouldn't be viewed as a priority. A previous report from The Athletic claims that Toulouse values the player at around £26m after rebuffing an offer from Wolfsburg in January. Palace could be aided by their relationship with the Ligue 1 club, from whom they signed Canvot last summer. They paid £23m for the young French centre-back and might be able to draw on prior business between the two clubs.
