Liverpool must race to agree deal for their next Virgil van Dijk | OneFootball

Liverpool will have to be quick if they're to land their next Virgil van Dijk. The Reds are pushing hard this summer.

Liverpool are looking into a deal for Maxence Lacriox, says Teamtalk. The Frenchman would be their first genuinely experienced centre-back arrival since Virgil van Dijk in 2018, with the Reds having solely moved for young players since then.

Ibrahima Konate, Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet have all signed. All were under 23 when doing so, however - Lacriox would be a serious, senior option.

But this won't be simple. Not only are there multiple teams looking at the 25-year-old but Crystal Palace are in a strange position.

They lost Marc Guehi in January to Manchester City, while several other players are being lined up. Liverpool, then, need to get in early if they want Lacroix.

Competition is fierce and he could be off the table quickly. More than that, Palace will almost certainly decide to keep him if they were to lose the likes of Adam Wharton early on.

Thus if Liverpool do want Lacroix, they've got to try and get him before Palace sign off on any other sales. It's a race against time.

Maxence Lacroix: Situation Summary

Premier League Impact and International Debut

Maxence Lacroix has established himself as a defensive cornerstone for Crystal Palace since arriving from Wolfsburg. As of late March 2026, the 25-year-old Frenchman is one of the most dominant centre-backs in the Premier League, notably clocked at a top speed of 35.39 km/h. His consistent performances have been instrumental in Palace’s domestic campaign and their deep run in the UEFA Conference League. This stellar form earned him his first senior call-up for France this month, where he made a successful debut in a victory over Brazil.

Transfer Battle and Valuation

The defender's international breakthrough has ignited a transfer scramble ahead of the summer window. Liverpool and Bayern Munich are reportedly leading the race for his signature, with Chelsea and Aston Villa also monitoring his progress. Crystal Palace is in a strong position as Lacroix is under contract until 2029 with no release clause. Following the departure of Marc Guéhi, the club is reluctant to sell and has reportedly set a minimum valuation of £60 million. While Lacroix is happy in London, the prospect of Champions League football ahead of the 2026 World Cup could influence his future.