Chelsea Facing Transfer Problem in Bid to Strengthen Defensive Depth
Chelsea Facing Transfer Problem in Bid to Strengthen Defensive Depth
The Blues are looking to bounce back from awful season with smart recruitment.Jamie Spencer|
Chelsea are in the early stages of a defensive overhaul this summer and interest in Crystal Palace center back Maxence Lacroix is reported to be moving to the next level.
Left back Marc Cucurella made the surprising switch to Real Madrid earlier this month, with Atalanta right back Marco Palestra, just 21 years of age, expected to soon arrive at Stamford Bridge.
BBC Sport notes that center back, where there could yet be several departures, is the next position to address as new manager Xabi Alonso prepares to take charge. Palace’s Lacroix, who would only need to make a short hop across London, is now considered a “key target” in that regard.
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The 26-year-old has enjoyed two strong seasons in the Premier League since moving to England in 2024, having previously played four seasons in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg. Such has been Lacroix’s form, Didier Deschamps saw fit to include him in France’s World Cup squad.
Lacroix received his first senior callup in March, seven years after last playing for France’s U20 team and seemingly dropping out of the national team picture. He is yet to play at the World Cup but is part of a group of center backs that includes William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté and Lucas Hernandez, on a level with Champions League-caliber defenders.
The Shift in Chelsea’s Transfer Policy
Although Palestra is still in the infancy of his career, pursuing Lacroix marks a noticeable change in Chelsea’s recruitment policy that has been solely focused on young, emerging talents in recent years.
Last summer, João Pedro was the club’s oldest new recruit at the age of 23. Liam Delap was the only other to have even celebrated a 21st birthday and several signings were just teenagers. It was a continuation of the strategy set out by BlueCo since 2022, but the most extreme version yet.
But while the motivation to unearth raw diamonds is clear—with more than an element of financial forethought, it left the Blues with a squad not equipped with sufficient experience to compete in the Premier League. Despite a strong start to 2025–26, it was not surprising to see the eventual collapse that left Chelsea in 10th place.
In December 2025, shortly before a sudden exit, former manager Enzo Maresca had hinted his desire to see more experienced individuals added to the squad.
“When you have 20 and 21-year-olds and a player who is 30 or 31, and he starts to say something to them, it’s invaluable. But [young players] is the strategy of the club,” Maresca said at the time.
Recruiting Lacroix, at the age of 26, and others like him should eliminate some of the problems Chelsea encountered. Although still young enough to be a long-term addition, the Frenchman is well established through six years of top-flight soccer within Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues.
Alonso’s appointment as ‘manager,’ rather than ‘head coach’ like his predecessors going back more than 10 years, will give him a greater influence.
The Defensive Problem Facing Chelsea
At a time when Chelsea are intending to boost defensive depth and build experience, it could be a case of replacing several of the existing backline.
Trevoh Chalobah is specifically linked with ambitious Serie A upstart Como, able to offer Champions League soccer next season after a remarkable rise, while Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo could also move on after a frustrating 2025–26 campaign from each.
Full back Malo Gusto is also drawing interest from Manchester City, The Times report, although it’s been claimed elsewhere that Chelsea value him at £75 million—suggesting they don’t intend to part ways despite having Reece James and, imminently, Palestra on the books.
Chelsea remain linked with Como’s Jacobo Ramón, who joined the Italian club from Real Madrid last summer. Los Blancos hold a buyback clause on the Spanish defender, but he has already publicly stated, “I see myself [at Como],” on the subject of his future.
Ramón would also be a step against Chelsea pursuing more experienced players, still only 21 years of age and with just 43 senior appearances in his entire career so far.
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Published 1 minute ago | Modified 1 minute ago
JAMIE SPENCERJamie Spencer is a freelance editor and writer for Sports Illustrated FC. Jamie fell in love with football in the mid-90s and specializes in the Premier League, Manchester United, the women’s game and old school nostalgia.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
