Having already lost one of their crown jewels in Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, who are also interested in leading Premier League clubs, Crystal Palace could face a season-defining transfer window as they look to replace them.
But things look set to get worse for Oliver Glasner, with defender and often on-pitch captain Marc Guehi also attracting interest, most notably Newcastle, who are closing in on a £60m deal for the 24-year-old.
Guehi made 29 appearances in all competitions for Palace last season, providing one assist and contributing to eight clean sheets, and his superb season even earned England a Euro 2024 title following Harry Maguire’s injury.
Crystal Palace transfer news
According to L’Equipe , Crystal Palace are interested in Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix as a possible replacement for Guehi if he leaves the club this summer.
The report says the two sides are in talks over a move, with Lacroix believed to be available for around £17m per second. However, Wolfsburg are expected to try to secure the best possible offer in order to replace him as they are already starting to look for replacements.
Lacroix made 31 appearances in all competitions for Wolfsburg last season, scoring four goals, providing one assist and contributing to eight clean sheets in his 2,665 minutes played.
Comparison between Lacroix and Guehi
Described by journalist Tobias Kröger as an “elite defender”, Lacroix is ​​6ft 3 tall, with outstanding physical attributes, including incredible pace for a defender, making him perfect for the Premier League.
Both defenders offer different strengths, with Lacroix being the more physically imposing and aggressive defender, while Guehi needs to be more calculated due to his shorter length and thus less physical presence.
Comparison between Lacroix and Guehi
Statistics (per 90 minutes)
Lacroix
Guehi
Pass attempt
46.9
50.6
Completion %
84.7%
86.9%
Progressive passes
3.02
2.98
Progressive wear
0.19
0.67
Go ahead
1.83
1.24
Block it
1.34
0.98
Eavesdropping
0.91
0.72
The shooters in the air won
2.44
1.29
Statistics taken from FBref
You can see from these metrics that Guehi is slightly more comfortable on the ball, averaging just under four more passes per 90 and having a 2.2% higher passing accuracy per 90. However, Lacroix still managed 0.04 more progressives pass per 90, averaging 3.02 to Guehi’s 2.98.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.
The difference in their playing qualities, at least according to statistics, is not that different. However, their defensive metrics are even further apart, with Lacroix averaging more rebounds, blocks, steals and aerial shots per 90.
Lacroix nearly doubles Guehi’s 1.29 aerial jumps per 90, which is expected given their height difference, and would add much-needed aerial ability to their defensive ranks. Palace scored just five goals from set pieces last season, joint last in the league for that metric with Burnley.
While losing Guehi would feel like another big lost piece for Glasner, the physical presence of Lacroix could add extra solidity to Palace’s backline and give them some edge that the team currently lacks.