Manager confident his £25m star won’t join Crystal Palace despite contract worries

With reports emerging suggesting that Crystal Palace had stepped up their interest, this is certainly one way to pour cold water on the speculation.

Earlier this week, claims coming out of France alleged that Oliver Glasner was looking to reunite with another of his old Bundesliga favourites.

After luring Daichi Kamada to Selhurst Park – a key part of that Europa League-winning Eintracht Frankfurt side – Glasner’s Crystal Palace supposedly made contact with Wolfsburg about a deal that would see Maxence Lacroix head to South London, via L’Equipe.

Now, HITC can confirm that Lacroix is indeed on Palace’s radar.

With Newcastle United submitting a second bid for Marc Guehi, albeit one that falls £15 million short of his asking price, the towering Frenchman is on the list of potential replacements alongside Chelsea outcast Trevoh Chalobah.

But amid talk of a reunion with Glasner, the man currently in the Wolfsburg dugout is planning for life with Lacroix at the Volkswagen Arena.

Crystal Palace eye Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix

In what feels like a major display of confidence, Ralph Hasenhuttl even handed Lacroix the vice-captain’s role this week.

“I assume that he will stay,” the former Southampton and RB Leipzig boss said. “The preparations are already well underway (for the new Bundesliga season). It would be of little help if he were to leave us now.

“I do believe that he also recognises that something is happening here and that he can go through the season with us and achieve something here.

“I think that would appeal to him.”

Of course, the final decision may not lie with Hasenhuttl.

Lacroix has just one year left on his contract and appears to have little appetite for an extension. This month, then, is probably Wolfsburg’s last chance to make anything close to the £25 million they reportedly value the former Strasbourg giant at.

“You have to consider all scenarios. Without wanting to blame anyone, it is never ideal when a player is entering the last year of his contract,” Wolfsburg managing director Peter Christiansen said to Kicker earlier in the week.

“But that is the situation.

“We are talking to Maxence. We would like to keep him. But the player and those around him also have their thoughts and ideas. And then, we will see what happens.

“We can show the players where we want to go with the club.”