Chelsea learn major summer signing could lead to a manager being sacked

Chelsea have learned the signing of Maxence Lacroix could have huge ramifications for the future of Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage.

Keen to add Premier League experience at the back, the Blues signed Lacroix from Palace for €60.7million (£51m) in the summer.

And the France international has gone on to make a solid impact for Chelsea, who are currently fourth in the Premier League table.

Palace, on the other hand, are licking their wounds after they were thrashed 5-0 by fierce rivals Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

That result has brought increased pressure on Frenchman Sage, who replaced Oliver Glasner as Palace head coach in June.

Sage has been told he must improve Palace’s leaky defence if he is to avoid losing his job in the next few weeks, according to The Guardian.

However, the Daily Mail believes he is fighting a losing battle, with Palace failing to sign an adequate replacement for Lacroix in the summer.

The Mail’s Bobby Manzi highlights how Chelsea loanees Honest Ahanor and Axel Disasi have struggled to fill the void left by Lacroix at Palace.

Manzi writes: “Two centre backs arrived after the season started, despite Palace selling England international Marc Guehi in January without a replacement and losing France international Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea during the World Cup.

“Not only did those signings arrive too late, leaving Sage limited time to implement his ideas amid a hectic schedule, but both represented a significant downgrade.

“Palace received £72million (€85.7m) for Guehi and Lacroix but replaced them with an 18-year-old loanee in Honest Ahanor and Chelsea cast-off Axel Disasi.

“Disasi, to his credit, significantly improved West Ham’s defence in the second half of last season, albeit as a wide centre back.

“At Palace, he has been forced into the middle simply because they lack a natural option for the role. It is, quite frankly, poor squad planning.

“Ahanor is an exciting prospect but remains a work in progress.”

Palace failed to sign any of Sage's main defensive targets

The Guardian reported in September that Sage wanted Palace to sign Joel Ordonez as a replacement for Lacroix, but they were unable to agree a deal with Club Brugge.

Palace also made attempts to sign Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima and Raphael Le Guen of Brest - but both pursuits came to nothing.

Sage is hoping to alleviate some of the pressure on his shoulders when Palace travel to Turkish giants Besiktas in the Europa League on Thursday.

The Eagles - who have won four of their 10 games under Sage this season - will then entertain Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Lacroix and Chelsea meanwhile are looking to make it three league wins in a row when they play host to Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.