Crystal Palace are now leading the race to sign Stade Brest defender Raphael Le Guen, as their search for a Maxence Lacroix replacement continues.

Chelsea are now on the verge of signing Lacroix, which means Palace will need to sign a new centre-back, and Le Guen has received plaudits from former Angers midfielder Olivier Auriac.

Auriac said: "He's intelligent on and off the pitch, he's strong and powerful. His areas for improvement lie in his technique; he needs to add more variety to his passing."

At just 19-years-old, the youngster has only made six Ligue 1 appearances, but he emerged as an important player for Brest at the back end of the 2025-26 campaign, starting their final four games.

The teenager was particularly impressive in a 1-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, displaying his ability to go toe-to-toe with some of the world's best players by winning three of the four duels he contested and making a whopping 16 clearances.

Crystal Palace leading the race for Le Guen as Lacroix replacement

According to a report from L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), Crystal Palace are now in pole position in the race for Le Guen's signature, having overtaken Premier League rivals Fulham.

Palace have now agreed personal terms with the starlet, who is regarded as a replacement for Lacroix, with progress being made over the past few days.

However, there are doubts over whether the young centre-back is ready to replace the Frenchman, who has been one of the Eagles' most important players over the past two seasons.

Indeed, the 26-year-old has made a whopping 98 appearances since arriving at Selhurst Park in the summer of 2024, during which time he's also established himself at international level, having amassed seven caps for France.

Le Guen, on the other hand, only recently became a consistent member of the Brest starting XI, and the French side didn't exactly finish the season strongly with him in the side, losing three and drawing one of their final four matches.

FC Augsburg defender Chrislain Matsima has also been identified as a potential replacement for Lacroix.

Palace are working behind the scenes to secure the 24-year-old's signature, while Toulouse's Charlie Cresswell remains under consideration as an alternative.