UK Media: Lacroix is Chelsea's top defensive target, Gusto valued at £75 million

According to Football.London, competition for the goalkeeper position at Chelsea is fierce, with Penders expected to rise. Meanwhile, Lacroix's transfer awaits two developments, and Gusto's £75 million valuation has become a challenge.

The competition for Chelsea's number one goalkeeper next season will be a major highlight at Stamford Bridge. Robert Sanchez has been written off multiple times during his time at the Blues, but his performance significantly improved in the 2025/26 season. On the other side is the young talent Penders, who has performed exceptionally well during his loan spell at Strasbourg under BlueCo. According to sources, Chelsea is prepared to give the 20-year-old Penders a chance to prove his worth to new manager Xabi Alonso. The Blues have been waiting for the right moment to bring the Belgian international goalkeeper into the first team, and that moment has arrived as Jørgensen has informed the club he wishes to leave this summer – the Danish goalkeeper is seeking more playing time after a frustrating two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Slonina is expected to depart before the September 1 deadline. He has yet to make a first-team appearance for Chelsea since joining from Chicago Fire for £10 million in 2022.

Chelsea's defense is also expected to see significant changes this summer. Colwill will not be leaving; sources say the Blues consider the Cobham academy graduate non-transferable and a vital part of the club's long-term plans. Chelsea hopes to find a long-term partner for Colwill this summer, and Lacroix is clearly the top target. The French international is currently with the French national team for the World Cup, but his representatives have held discussions with the West London club regarding a potential transfer.

Last month, Chelsea made an inquiry to Crystal Palace, beginning negotiations for the defender. Lacroix has three years remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, giving Crystal Palace a strong negotiating position on the financial aspects of a potential deal. Crystal Palace is also looking at other center-backs but seems to have missed out on Charlie Cresswell, who is rumored to join Rennes. Chelsea is patiently waiting for their cross-town rivals to sign a center-back first, after which Crystal Palace might consider selling Lacroix, and then the focus will shift to agreeing on a transfer fee with Crystal Palace.

Lacroix is not Chelsea's only target. Sources indicate that Jacovo Ramon is another option for the center-back position, and the club has several other names on its shortlist.

Additionally, Trevoh Chalobah is likely to leave Stamford Bridge after nearly 20 years with the West London club. As of this writing, Inter Milan appears to be the main contender for the 27-year-old, with the Serie A champions having overtaken league rivals Como. Sources reveal that Chelsea will accept an offer of around £35 million, and Chalobah is reportedly considering his options this summer.

Wesley Fofana's future remains uncertain. The French defender had a disappointing 2025/26 season, and speculation surrounds his future at Stamford Bridge. The same applies to Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile. From a squad depth perspective, if all three, plus Chalobah, depart, Chelsea will have a significant amount of work to do in the transfer market – especially if Alonso wants to use a back-three system at Stamford Bridge (which is yet to be confirmed).

Mamadou Sarr might be loaned out again after his loan spell at Strasbourg ended prematurely in the winter window. Sarr was recalled early due to numerous defensive injuries under former manager Liam Rosenior, but the Senegalese international had almost no playing time in the second half of the season.

Chelsea is open to offers for Disasi, whose loan spell at West Ham United was impressive. Anselmino is expected to go out on loan again, but the Blues still rate him highly.

Work to bring in Rayo Vallecano left-back Chavarría is progressing behind the scenes. Inter-club negotiations between Chelsea and Rayo Vallecano have been ongoing for over a week, but no agreement has been reached as of this writing. Sources indicate that Chavarría wants to join Chelsea, and the Blues need to add left-back options after Cucurella's £52 million move to Real Madrid last month. However, even if Chavarría joins, he will not be a direct replacement for Cucurella, as insiders at Stamford Bridge insist that Hato will take on a more significant role in his second season at the club. The Dutch international struggled in the first few games of the season but has become one of the Blues' most outstanding performers since Christmas.

Reece James will not be leaving – he is another member of Chelsea's non-transferable club. The Blues captain signed a new contract with Chelsea towards the end of the 2025/26 season, committing to a long-term stay.

Josh Achampong also belongs to the aforementioned non-transferable category. Chelsea sources emphasized to football.london last month that the Cobham academy graduate is non-transferable, and the Blues have rejected offers from several European clubs for the versatile defender. He is eager to get more first-team playing time under new manager Alonso.

Gusto can be sold this summer, but Chelsea is not actively pushing for the French international's departure. The Blues have noted strong interest in Gusto from Manchester City and former manager Enzo Maresca, but Manchester City is unwilling to meet Chelsea's £75 million valuation for the versatile right-back. Chelsea is open to selling Gusto after signing Palestra from Atalanta. The Blues reached a deal with the Serie A club last month for a total of £47 million, and the 21-year-old defender is expected to become a key player under Alonso.

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