Credit: Imago

Ciaran Morrison

Mon 1 June 2026 20:30, UK

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Crystal Palace should prepare for a bid from Liverpool for defender Maxence Lacroix following Ibrahima Konate’s departure.

Konate’s exit from Anfield means Liverpool will now be desperate to sign a new centre-back to partner captain Virgil van Dijk next season.

Lacroix is entering the peak of his career, and has been impressive during Crystal Palace’s FA Cup and Europa Conference League wins under Oliver Glasner.

The 26-year-old’s inclusion in France’s World Cup squad, alongside Crystal Palace teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta, shows that he is ready to make the move to Liverpool.

Crystal Palace would not want to let Lacroix leave in the same summer as Glasner departs, but Champions League football could be too much for him to turn down.

Liverpool face competition for Maxence Lacroix

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Liverpool do hold interest in Lacroix, alongside Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Whilst the Eagles would prefer to sell Lacroix to Bayern Munich, a big fee could be enough to tempt them into a sale to a Premier League rival.

Konate’s departure means Lacroix would be guaranteed game time at Liverpool, with Joe Gomez the only other experienced centre-back at the club.

Crystal Palace should be able to hike the price up further amid Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcements, but the Reds do have the financial power to be able to agree a deal.

Crystal Palace face threat of second transfer blow

Crystal Palace should also hold concerns about losing midfielder Adam Wharton this summer, in what would be another huge blow for the club’s next manager.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, and he could be even more eager to make a move after being snubbed by Thomas Tuchel in England’s World Cup squad.

Whilst the sale of Wharton could be another financial boost for Crystal Palace in the transfer market, it makes any desire to climb the Premier League table even more difficult to achieve.

The loss of Lacroix and Wharton in the same transfer window could put Crystal Palace at risk of being dragged into a relegation battle if they do not source adequate replacements in the market.