After the signing of Marco Palestra from Atalanta, Chelsea are keen on pursuing a centre-back signing this summer, and a new report outlines four players on Xabi Alonso’s shortlist.
Two-time Italy star Palestra is set to be the first new addition of the Alonso era, after Chelsea blew Inter Milan out of the water to strike a £43m deal. There is plenty of hype surrounding the Atalanta defender.
Gigi Buffon has described him as extraordinary, while Chelsea believe Palestra can play in four separate positions when he arrives at Stamford Bridge. Palestra is even known to dribble with his weaker foot.
RATE 1️⃣-🔟: Is Marco Palestra a good signing?
Serie A's Best Defender of 2025-26.
Now, Chelsea look set to pursue a partner for Levi Colwill in the middle of Chelsea’s defence. A new report says Chelsea have whittled down their shortlist to four potential options, including an Irishman.
Ranking Chelsea’s four centre-back options this summer
According to a report from TeamTalk, Chelsea have identified Como’s Jacobo Ramon, Brentford and Ireland defender Nathan Collins, Club Brugge ace Joel Ordonez, and Palace’s Maxence Lacroix as options.
Below, we rank which would be the best signing for Chelsea this summer, judging each of their numbers from the 2025-26 season and how they would suit a side managed by Alonso, as well as transfer fees.
4. Nathan Collins (Brentford)
It is a bit of a surprise to see Collins listed alongside Chelsea’s other centre-back targets. Alonso likes to break out from the back and play possession-based football, while Collins is an old-school centre-back.
Old school at least, compared to the other options. Last season’s passing accuracy of 83.1%, or to put it in more alarming terms, almost one of every five passes being misplaced, is not good enough for Alonso.
He has experience, he knows the Premier League; he is a warrior. His best attributes are defending from crosses, a problem for Chelsea last season, but with the ball, he lacks what his rivals can do in possession.
3. Jacobo Ramon (Como)
Ramon has been excellent at Como since Cesc Fabregas took him to Italy from Real Madrid. The issue in a possible move for Ramon is that Madrid have a buyback clause that is much cheaper than his value.
Madrid are expected to bring him back, but Antonio Rudiger has signed a new deal, and Jose Mourinho’s appointment complicates things. It may see Ramon, branded ‘devastating’ by Fabregas, become available.
The issue with Ramon is that he is not as strong as Collins, Ordonez or Lacroix when it comes to aerial duels. As aforementioned, defending from crosses was a problem last season, and it must be addressed.
2. Joel Ordonez (Club Brugge)
This is a bit more like it. Ordonez has a bit of everything and is another example of Ecuador creating superb defenders, after Piero Hincapie and Willian Pacho. He is Moises Caicedo’s World Cup teammate.
Of the four defenders, Ordonez won the most duels last season, boasting an average of 62.5% duels won throughout 2025-26. His passing accuracy was also excellent, completing above 90% of his passes.
Well ahead of his peak years and likely to be on the move this summer, Chelsea could do a lot worse than signing Ecuador’s next-best defender. Reports say Brugge are open to doing a deal in the region of £35m.
1. Maxence Lacroix (Palace)
This is Chelsea’s best option. While Ordonez is excellent when it comes to ground duels, Lacroix is also excellent in the air. He gives Chelsea speed at the back, an aerial presence, and tidiness in possession.
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Not only that, but Lacroix is proven in the Premier League. The Frenchman is probably the priciest player on the list because he has shown he can do it in England’s top flight, but he is worth every penny.
It is rare to find a centre-back that has a bit of everything, in and out of possession. But as far as Premier League proven centre-backs go, it is difficult to find anything better than Lacroix available this summer.
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