With Oliver Glasner’s impact ensuring that Crystal Palace can now look back with pity on those rolling around in the relegation mire, focus can now turn to what could be a busy first summer in the Selhurst Park dugout for the Austrian boss.
HITC understands that Glasner has informed Crystal Palace to keep tabs on Rapid Vienna duo Leo Querfeld and Matthias Seidl, the former a talented, ball-playing centre-half and the latter a clever, creative attacking midfielder.
And with Marc Guehi expected to be a man in high demand – Manchester United and Liverpool are just two of the clubs in the market for defensive additions – The Telegraph believe that Roy Hodgson’s Palace replacement could turn to another man he knows well.
It was Glasner, after all, who brought Lacroix to Wolfsburg from Sochaux in France. And while the 24-year-old’s development has stalled a little of late, who better than him to get Lacroix playing at the peak of his powers once again?
Crystal Palace linked with £25m Marc Guehi replacement
The former France Under 20 international may be a centre-half but it’s his technical ability which really marked him out as a potentially elite-level talent during his early days in Germany.
Lacroix provided a reminder of those marauding abilities during Saturday’s dramatic comeback win at Freiburg, outdoing captain Maxi Arnold as he hammered a 90th minute winner into the top corner from long range.
It was a result – and a goal – which could save Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga skins. They are now six points clear of the relegation zone with only three matches remaining. So, if Lacroix does depart this summer, at least he will sign off having rescued his club with a moment which could go down in Die Wolfe folklore.
Lacroix, speaking to the Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, opened up on those Crystal Palace links for the first time early this week, albeit while giving too much away. He did, however, admit that he is still in talks with a coach who masterminded those wins over Newcastle, West Ham and away at Anfield in April.
“We spoke on the phone,” Lacroix reveals. “That was after the game between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace around two weeks ago.
“(But) this is not the moment to talk about my future. Now, all that matters to me is Wolfsburg. We have a mission called staying in the league. And when this mission is accomplished, we can go on vacation with a smile.
“After the season we can talk (about whether I stay or go).”
The WAZ reports that Wolfsburg will look for around £25 million for Lacroix. While hardly pocket change, Palace can expect to bring in substantially more than that if Guehi does make the move to one of the division’s big-hitters.
Palace are also looking to bring in a left-back more suited to Glasner’s wing-back system than Tyrick Mitchell. Real Betis’ out-of-contract flyer Juan Miranda is a target, HITC understands. There is also interest in Arsenal benchwarmer Eddie Nketiah.