Crystal Palace are preparing for life without Maxence Lacroix following the French defender’s move to Chelsea.

New manager Pierre Sage has been given a tough ask to build on Palace’s UEFA Conference League triumph and will have to do so without Lacroix. He was hugely important throughout his time at Selhurst Park, winning three major trophies under former boss Oliver Glasner.

Lacroix joined the Blues in a £52 million deal earlier this week and becomes the latest high-profile name to depart Selhurst Park. The Eagles sold Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January and Eberechi Eze to Arsenal last summer.

Crystal Palace Want Disasi Loan Deal

Palace have made just one signing thus far, with Spanish defender Oscar Mingueza arriving as a free agent after leaving Celta Vigo. He isn’t viewed as Lacroix’s replacement, and it appears Steve Parish’s transfer chiefs are looking to capitalise on the business conducted with Chelsea.

According to Alan Nixon on Patreon, the South Londoners are interested in signing Axel Disasi on loan after his impressive performances at West Ham United during the second half of last season. The experienced Frenchman is deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and is likely to be on the move once again.

Palace are only keen on bringing Disasi to Selhurst Park on loan because they want to buy Reims’ teenage centre-back Raphael Le Guen. A senior defender is desired and the 28-year-old looks to be one of the favourites on their shortlist.

Disasi is thought to prefer a permanent move this summer but none of the offers thus far have appealed. He has three years left on his contract at Chelsea, having joined the Blues from AS Monaco in the summer of 2023 for £38.5 million.

Disasi Could Be a Good Fit For Sage

REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

While Disasi failed to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge, he proved his worth on loan at West Ham and previously Aston Villa. Labelled “unbelievable” despite failing to help the Hammers avoid relegation, he put in excellent displays in Nuno Espirito Santo’s defence.

The Frenchman’s experience could be hugely beneficial for Sage and help his compatriot try to take the team in a new direction. His versatility is also worth noting as he can play at right-back if required.

With Le Guen on the South London outfit’s radar, adding a centre-back who has spent years playing in the Premier League is a good idea. If he replicates the level of performances from his brief time at the London Stadium, it could lead to the club deciding to sign him permanently next year.

Manchester United have spent the summer looking to rebuild their squad ahead of a return to the Champions League this season, but legendary defender Wes Brown has told GIVEMESPORT that they have a big decision they need to make sooner rather than later.

The Reds have brought in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to bolster their midfield options, while goalkeeper Karl Darlow and young winger Tynan Thompson have also arrived as new members of Michael Carrick’s squad.

But Marcus Rashford is also set to return to the squad this season following his loan spell at Barcelona, and it has been reported that he is set to be reintegrated into the squad after almost 18 months away.

Rashford to Return to Man Utd

Rashford hasn’t featured for the Man Utd first-team since December 12th 2024, when he played 56 minutes in a 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, following a fallout with then manager Ruben Amorim.

The winger has made 426 appearances for the club since coming through their academy, scoring 138 goals, but he spent the 2025/26 season on loan with Barcelona, where he scored 14 goals and registered 14 assists as they won the Spanish La Liga title.

As part of the deal, Barcelona had the option to make the loan permanent for just £26m. However, the Spanish giants opted against doing so, and have instead signed Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi for a combined £95m.

Rashford is now expected to return to Carrington for pre-season with Man Utd after his holidays, having competed at the World Cup with England, and reports suggest that Carrick is ready to reintegrate the 28-year-old back into his squad as an attacking option.

But the decision has drawn some criticism from some fans and pundits, who believe that his time at Old Trafford has come to a natural conclusion, with Rashford having stated earlier this year that he wanted to join Barcelona permanently rather than return to his boyhood side.

Wes Brown: Man Utd Have Big Rashford Decision to Make

Wes Brown, who won the treble with Man Utd in 1999 and the Champions League in 2008, was speaking to GIVEMESPORT exclusively via LiveFootballTickets, and admitted that the future of the England star is one they need to sort “very soon”.

“That’s the big question, isn’t it?” he said.

“I’m sure Michael Carrick would love him back because it gives him another option. If he could come into the scene this season, that helps out massively.

“I’m still not sure what’s going to happen, but I think if it was just up to Michael, he would definitely be back in. Obviously Marcus would have loved to have probably stayed at Barcelona. They went another way, so I’m not sure what other options there is really.

“For me, it’s always time. People always fall out, and you can always rekindle things in football. It’s just the way it is. I think it’ll be a boost for Michael for him to be here next season.

“He’s on a lot of money, Marcus, so I think that’s the only point that may make a move more difficult. He’s a great player. His spells in the World Cup showed it as well. It’s a decision everyone’s going to have to come to very soon.”

Manchester United have an alternative in mind should a move for Newcastle United‘s Lewis Hall fail to come to fruition.

Hall is the Red Devils’ top left-back target and has been talked up for a move to Old Trafford for several months. The 21-year-old has impressed throughout his time at St James’ Park, and he could be the next high-profile name to depart Tyneside.

A potential deal for Hall isn’t guaranteed, especially if Newcastle dig their heels in and refuse to sell the Englishman for a fee INEOS feel is reasonable. That doesn’t mean a new left-back won’t be added to Michael Carrick’s squad ahead of a return to the UEFA Champions League next season.

Man Utd Could Turn To Balde if Hall Pursuit Fails

United have other names on their shortlist and reportedly continue to monitor Alejandro Balde’s situation at Barcelona. A report from TEAMtalk claims that the Spaniard remains on the club’s radar and could face an uncertain future if the Catalans land Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas.

While Barca are keen on Salinas, he is an option for the Red Devils should INEOS fail to agree on a deal with Hall. But at just 19 years old, Carrick may want more experience, and that could see the Premier League club turn to Balde.

The 22-year-old hasn’t quite hit the heights many anticipated thus far in his career, but he has nailed down the left-back starting berth in the Blaugrana team. He appeared 42 times across competitions last season, registering three assists.

Balde, dubbed “one of Europe’s best full-backs”, holds a good relationship with Marcus Rashford, who spent last season on loan at Camp Nou. There had been an expectation that the English forward would permanently join the Spaniard at Barca, but he now looks set to stay at Old Trafford.

Man Utd Must Prioritise Hall

With United previously having contact with Barca, it could help aid a potential deal for Balde should INEOS decide to move for the Spain international. It seems as though for that to happen, the Catalans need to sign Salinas before they start considering parting ways with their academy graduate.

Hall remains the priority and rightfully so as he seems a perfect fit for the Red Devils and to become Luke Shaw’s long-term replacement. At 31, the Englishman isn’t getting any younger, and the club needs to start preparing for a future without him.

If United are to sign a Shaw heir this summer, Hall ticks all the boxes as he’s young and boasts Premier League experience. It seems a difficult deal to do, but moving for Balde should only be viewed as a Plan B.