Former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has given a positive assessment of the transfer of 26-year-old Crystal Palace central defender Maxence Lacroix.
The French defender has officially joined the Blues for £52 million, signing a six-year contract until the summer of 2032. He has become one of seven newcomers in Xabi Alonso's squad during this transfer window, alongside players such as Morgan Rogers, Geovane Kenda, Marco Paletta, Emmanuel Emegha, Danny Welbeck, and Valentin Barco.
Cahill's opinion
In an interview with the official Chelsea website, Cahill emphasised that this transfer will help the player reach a new level:
He’s an excellent player, and it’s a really smart signing. He is at a great age and already has solid experience of regular Premier League play. Moving to a club like Chelsea provides him with a fantastic platform for further growth.
Jody Morris's scepticism
At the same time, former Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris expressed some concerns. In an interview with BOYLE Sports, he pointed out how Lacroix performs in various tactical systems:
Playing at Crystal Palace: Morris praised the defender’s performances in Oliver Glasner's system with three central defenders.
International performances: However, the coach expressed doubts regarding Lacroix's performances for the French national team during the recent World Cup, noting less than convincing matches against Spain and England. Morris added that he is very interested to see how Xabi Alonso will utilise the Frenchman when playing with two centre-backs.
Lacroix missed Chelsea’s opening friendlies against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham, but he hopes to join the main squad in the coming days. The official season for the Londoners kicks off on August 24 with an away match against Fulham.
