Who Replaces Lacroix at Crystal Palace? | OneFPL
← All articles transfer 1 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Who Replaces Maxence Lacroix at Crystal Palace? FPL Winners and Losers Lacroix has left Crystal Palace for Chelsea. We assess Canvot, Richards, Mingueza, Mitchell, Muñoz and the effect on Dean Henderson.
Transfer and pre-season information checked: 1 August 2026
Maxence Lacroix has left Crystal Palace for Chelsea.
The move removes a centre-back who combined secure minutes, clean sheets, bonus and defensive contributions.
Palace have already signed versatile Spain defender Oscar Mingueza, but the replacement may be decided through a wider tactical change under new manager Pierre Sage.
The replacement candidates Player Possible role Main FPL route Main concern Jaydee Canvot Central or right centre-back Contributions and budget value New tactical system Chris Richards Central or right centre-back Contributions, set pieces and experience World Cup return Oscar Mingueza Centre-back, full-back or wing-back Creativity and attacking potential
Exact role
Chadi Riad Left or central centre-back Minutes and aerial presence Fitness
Borna Sosa Left-sided defender or wing-back Crossing and assists Defensive security
Rio Cardines Young defender Possible budget minutes First-team experience
Tyrick Mitchell Left-back or wing-back Assists and clean sheets Formation
Daniel Muñoz Right-back or wing-back Elite attacking-defender profile New manager's system
Jaydee Canvot Canvot established a larger role after Marc Guehi left for Manchester City last season.
Official FPL analysis highlighted his defensive-contribution returns late in the campaign.
Lacroix's departure can make him more important.
FPL strengths Defensive-action potential Possible budget price Existing Palace experience Route to regular starts Set-piece involvement
Risks Palace may sign another centre-back Pierre Sage can use a different formation Young defenders can be rotated World Cup players are returning gradually Current verdict: Best budget replacement candidate.
Chris Richards Richards returned to pre-season action on 31 July and started beside Canvot and Borna Sosa.
He provides Premier League experience, aerial ability, defensive contributions and versatility across a back three.
If he starts centrally, he can inherit part of Lacroix's defensive workload.
Current verdict: Strongest experienced centre-back candidate.
Oscar Mingueza Palace signed Mingueza from Celta Vigo on a four-year contract.
The club describes him as capable of playing anywhere across the back line.
His first interview highlighted forward passing, crossing, driving with the ball and defending higher.
Possible roles Right centre-back in a three Right-back in a four Right wing-back Left or central cover His FPL appeal rises dramatically when used as a wing-back.
Current verdict: Highest attacking upside, role not settled.
Chadi Riad and Borna Sosa Riad can provide left-footed balance when fit.
Sosa can operate as a left-sided defender or wing-back and offers more crossing potential.
Their value depends on final-friendly minutes and the formation Sage selects.
Daniel Muñoz Muñoz remains Palace's leading attacking defender.
Lacroix's departure can reduce clean-sheet confidence, but a back-three system can preserve Muñoz's advanced wing-back role.
He should still be judged mainly through attacking output, role and minutes.
Tyrick Mitchell Mitchell has featured during pre-season and can play as a left-back or wing-back.
His value depends on competition from Sosa, the chosen shape and whether he retains enough crossing responsibility.
Dean Henderson The goalkeeper's save potential remains useful.
Lacroix's departure can produce more shots faced and more saves, but also lower clean-sheet probability and greater set-piece vulnerability.
More saves do not automatically compensate for lost clean sheets.
Early pre-season evidence Pierre Sage's first friendly used split teams and several academy players.
In the 31 July match, Canvot and Richards started together with Sosa, while Mitchell also featured.
This is useful evidence but not the final Gameweek 1 defence.
Back three versus back four
Back three Possible centre-backs include Richards, Canvot, Mingueza, Riad and Sosa.
Muñoz and Mitchell can play as wing-backs.
Back four Mingueza or Muñoz can play right-back, with Richards and Canvot or Riad centrally and Mitchell on the left.
This can reduce the attacking freedom of the full-backs.
Defensive-contribution impact Lacroix consistently collected defensive actions.
Those actions are not simply transferred to one replacement.
The volume depends on position, opponent, aerial duels, crosses faced, possession and tactical pressing.
Canvot and Richards are the most natural contribution candidates.
Opening fixtures Palace begin away to Everton before hosting Manchester City.
Ipswich later visit during the early schedule.
The Manchester City fixture reduces the attraction of starting multiple Palace defenders immediately.
Early FPL ranking Rank Palace defender Why 1 Muñoz Best attacking ceiling 2 Canvot Budget and contributions when starting 3 Richards Strong centre-back route 4 Mingueza High tactical upside but uncertain role 5 Mitchell Useful when secure as wing-back 6 Riad Fitness and minutes need confirmation
This is an early ranking, not a final recommendation.
OneFPL verdict Do not assume Mingueza directly replaces Lacroix.
The likely outcome is a competition between Canvot, Richards, Mingueza, Riad and Sosa within a new defensive structure.
Muñoz remains the premium attacking choice Canvot can become the budget winner Richards offers the safer centre-back profile Mingueza can become the breakout pick as a wing-back Henderson loses some clean-sheet confidence
FAQ
Who is most likely to replace Lacroix? Canvot and Richards have strong routes to centre-back starts, while Mingueza is another candidate.
Is Mingueza a centre-back? He can play across the defence, including centre-back, full-back and potentially wing-back.
Is Muñoz still a good FPL pick? Yes, when his attacking wing-back role remains secure.
Does Lacroix leaving make Henderson a bad option? Not automatically. Henderson may gain saves but lose clean-sheet probability.
Should I buy a Palace defender now? Only when the player has a secure role independent of the remaining competition.
Sources OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
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OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
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