Crystal Palace have already started the search for Maxence Lacroix’s replacement, with him likely to join Chelsea this summer.
Foot Mercato report that Pierre Sage has turned his attention to the Bundesliga, and his focus is on Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima.
Crystal Palace focus on Matsima
According to the French outlet, the 24-year-old French defender, a product of Monaco’s youth academy, ranks highly on the list of Lacroix replacements.
He played around 20 games last season despite a tendon injury. According to FM, he managed to showcase his qualities that ‘mark him as one of the division’s top defenders’.
That has seemingly alerted Crystal Palace. They appear destined to lose Lacroix to Chelsea this summer and, will need a high-level replacements. Chrislain Matsima could be it.
He is currently rated at €23m by Transfermarkt. But whether that would be enough to convince the German side into a sale is unlikely. His actual asking price would surely be higher.
Major profit for Augsburg
Augsburg only paid €5m for him a year ago, so they’re set to make a major profit either way. The positive part for them is that they have the defender tied down to a deal until 2030 so there is no pressure to sell.
A concrete move from Crystal Palace would be welcomed though. It would ‘yield financial rewards’ for all parties involves. Augsburg would earn a ‘substantial profit’ while Monaco would benefit as well.
The Principality club had the foresight to include a 15% sell-on clause regarding any profit made on a future transfer for the defender. So, they will get a share of any figure above €5m.
It all depends on Lacroix’s future, though. Crystal Palace will first need to move on the French defender before then entering the market for a potential replacement. If or when that happens, it seems they have Matsima firmly in their sights.
