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Four elite teams are allegedly interested in a Crystal Palace star this summer - will a transfer bid be forthcoming?
Last Thursday in the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts – one of the American stadia which will host England in this summer’s World Cup – France defeated Brazil in an international friendly which will live long in the memory of at least one of those involved: Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, who came off the bench to make his debut for Didier Deschamps’ side.
His cap was a just reward for a very fine season in the Premier League, but Deschamps isn’t the only coach to have taken note of his performances. According to new reports, Lacroix could find himself at the centre of one of the fiercest bidding wars of the summer, with Liverpool and Chelsea supposedly among the sides interested in prying him away from Selhurst Park.
TeamTalk reported this weekend that Palace are braced to receive offers for a player who has established himself as a first-rate centre-half, with Aston Villa and Bayern Munich also said to be interested. But is Lacroix ready to make the step up to an elite side, and how might the potential four-way transfer tug of war pan out?
Why Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix is a man in demand
The 25-year-old Lacroix has made a significant impression this season, and appears to have built upon the foundations laid at Crystal Palace last year – developing a strong positional sense to go alongside an impressive range of physical traits.
Apparently clocked as the fastest defender in the Premier League since the summer, Lacroix has also learned to use his pace well and his ability to put himself in the right place at the right time to put out potential fires is the equal of any centre-back in the top flight. His average of 7.3 clearances per match is exceptionally high, and a testament to his ability to read opposing attacks.
He’s also grown in strength in one-on-one situations, winning over 60% of his ground and aerial duels, and combines that with strong technique and a good passing range. Lacroix has proven himself to be a true all-rounder with few noticeable weaknesses.
His blend of tactical nous and sheer pace has also helped to make him appeal to a range of different sides. He’s quick and sharp enough to play in higher lines, but at 6’3” also has the aerial prowess and off-ball positioning to operate effectively in a low block, too – and appears to be just as comfortable in a back three as he is in a back four.
There aren’t many sides who couldn’t find a use for Lacroix, and that’s reflected in the diversity of the teams alleged to be pursuing him ahead of a possible summer transfer bid, and he’s a player entering his peak years in exceptional form and seemingly while seeming to grow and develop at a rapid pace. He’s seems to have persuaded France that he’s worth looking at for the World Cup squad, and that faith may well end up being reflected in the transfer market.
Will Liverpool or Chelsea sign Lacroix this summer?
As it stands, there is only a limited amount of corroboration for TeamTalk’s story suggesting that Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Bayern Munich are all interested in Lacroix, but it’s scarcely the kind of speculation which defies belief.
Liverpool, especially, have a dire need for defensive reinforcements and have been casting their net far and wide as they look for potential long-term replacements for the declining Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, who may leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, but Chelsea have been working hard to find a new centre-half as well, as have Bayern Munich – one of Konaté suitors, as it happens.
With such illustrious sides seemingly interested, Aston Villa may find it difficult to compete even if they can secure Champions League football, but Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern all seem to have quite lengthy shortlists. Lacroix may well be one name among many, but there is no evidence as yet that he would be the priority for any of those sides.
Figuring out how plausible the story may be is only made harder by the fact that there is no reporting (as yet) as to what kind of asking price Crystal Palace might set. These are wealthy sides with plenty of resources, but also teams with other priorities and spending regulations to comply with. They cannot spend immense sums on all of their targets, and with Lacroix under contract until 2029, Palace have the leverage to demand a substantial fee.
That could price some teams out, but Palace are ultimately still a selling club, despite having worked hard to keep hold of their best assets. They won’t let Lacroix go for cheap, but there will be a price.
The unresolved question is just how intense the interest in the Frenchman actually is. If he is indeed a priority target for any of the sides alleged to be keen – and given his performances in the Premier League this season, that would hardly be a shock – then it’s hard to imagine Palace holding on to him. But they have played hardball before, with Marc Guéhi, Wilfried Zaha and others. There are no assurances that any suitors will succeed with a bid.
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