Chelsea plans to reduce centre-backs as they sign Lacroix for £52m
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 31, 2026, 7:27 AM
Last updated Jul 31, 2026
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso announced plans to cut the number of central defenders from 10 to four or five. The club recently acquired Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52 million. Alonso also has Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and others on the squad as they prepare for a pre-season tour in Australia. Several players, including Mamadou Sarr, are expected to leave, while Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, and Axel Disasi are available for transfer. Chelsea aims to streamline its roster after a disappointing 10th-place finish in the Premier League last season.
- •Chelsea signed Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52 million.
- •Xabi Alonso aims to reduce centre-backs to four or five.
- •Chalobah, Badiashile, and Disasi are available for sale.
- •Chelsea had a disappointing 10th-place finish in last season's Premier League.
- •The club is finalizing preparations for a friendly against Tottenham.
- 7:27 AMYahoo Sports — Chelsea will sell centre-backs - Alonso
"Manager Xabi Alonso says Chelsea are looking to reduce their central defensive options from 10 to "four or five". The Blues signed Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52m on Thursday, but Alonso also has Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong and Aaron Anselmino in his squad on the club's pre-season tour of Australia.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- EPL•Jul 31, 2026, 8:21 AMBeever-Jones ready to 'conquer' new season after injury troubles last term
- EPL•Jul 31, 2026, 8:20 AMMullins named manager at League Two Newport County
- EPL•Jul 31, 2026, 8:08 AMThe Premier League clubs fighting a World Cup hangover
- EPL•Jul 31, 2026, 8:00 AMTottenham leave door open for defender’s exit as Barcelona monitor situation
- EPL•Jul 31, 2026, 7:50 AMToday’s Papers – Guardiola-style Inter, World Cup without Europe
- EPL•Jul 31, 2026, 7:50 AM“Do it and you’ll have the bailiffs at your door!” — Palmer teases Rogers over shared ‘cold’ celebration at Chelsea
