Crystal Palace have secured the transfer of centre-back Maxence Lacroix. The Frenchman is leaving Wolfsburg after four years at the club.
Crystal Palace Sign ‘Defensive Rock’ Maxence Lacroix From Wolfsburg
Confirmed and Here We Go
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the transfer to the Premier League club with a fee of around £18 million. The Italian journalist reported that Lacroix was the number one choice for manager Oliver Glasner and has given his “Here We Go”.
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The medical is set to be completed within the next 24 hours. The official announcement from the Eagles may be made by the end of the week.
Who is Maxence Lacroix?
Lacroix started his career at third-division French side FC Sochaux. The Montbéliard based club has had the likes of João Miranda, Jérémy Mathieu and Ivan Perišić play for them.
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After two years in the first team for The Lions, a move to Germany was made. Wolfsburg secured the defender’s talents for £4 million in the summer of 2020. Glasner, the new manager at Wolfsburg then, made the defender his second signing.
At The Wolves Lacroix made 111 Bundesliga appearances over four seasons. The first two were managed by his new boss at Selhurst Park.
What This Signing Brings to Crystal Palace
Lacroix is a direct replacement for the departed Joachim Andersen. The Danish centre-back moved to West London with a fee of around £30 million agreed by the two clubs. Furthermore, Marc Guehi has been heavily linked with a move to Newcastle by the end of the window. This is a much needed signing.
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The former FC Sochaux defender is rapid and fits into The Eagles’ high-line defending. The 24-year-old is also adept at long-ball passing. Palace currently has the 6th most long passes attempted in the league after two games but completed just 49% of them. Over the last year, Lacroix has completed 68% of his attempted long passes, ranking him in the top 25% of central defenders in Europe. Young and a ‘defensive rock‘, there is a lot of upside to this transfer.
