Bundesliga giants now want 'outstanding' Crystal Palace defender who loves Oliver Glasner

Crystal Palace could be set to receive interest in a player they will desperately want to keep this summer. The Eagles face a tough battle to keep hold of their best players this summer having enjoyed a fine campaign of last.

Palace have several impressive individual talents, with Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and others all likely to attract interest. The Eagles will keep hold of the majority of their players, but it’s likely they will lose one or two, with Eze and Guehi the leading candidates.

But Daniel Muñoz reportedly attracting interest from Juventus, while there are now reports from France claiming Maxence Lacroix could be of interest to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund. L’Équipe are saying Dortmund have identified Lacroix as a possible target as they look to improve at the back.

Palace only signed Lacroix last summer, spending £15.2million upfront to bring him to Selhurst Park - a deal that proved to be a masterstroke. Lacroix reunited with Glasner having previously worked with him in the Bundesliga, and he replaced Joachim Andersen seamlessly, playing a huge role in what was a very successful campaign for Palace.

Palace are likely to reject any advances for Lacroix, and in truth they must given Guehi could leave this summer. Losing both centre-backs would be a disaster for a club preparing for its first European campaign. Although, if Dortmund are willing to offer a big fee, the Eagles could be offered the chance to make a big profit and within just one year.

What Lacroix and Glasner have said

Upon joining Palace last summer, Lacroix said: “I'm really happy to be here and arrive at this good team. I watched Palace's last games and I was really happy for the coach, because I'd played under him before. I think it's the right moment to move to the Premier League."

Before the FA Cup final, Lacroix added: “This is really important – to build something off the pitch also. We can see it on the pitch. Everyone wants to fight for each other. This is why we are difficult to play.” Speaking about Glasner, the defender continued: “He takes the best of you. He can make a normal player into a good player because he helps you to give everything you have. I think this is the biggest point.”

Glasner praised the signing of Lacroix, saying after the FA Cup semi-final win: “100 per cent credit to the recruitment,” Glasner said after his side’s victory over Villa. Not to just to the players’ profiles but also the character of the players. It’s a great group to manage, to coach. It is great recruitment.

“The new players who came in this year, like Maxence Lacroix, like Daichi Kamada, showed an outstanding performance today and also at the Emirates. Nketiah. He won the ball for the third and passed to Sarr at the right moment. It’s all about recruitment and talent and character. Then we can build a group. Now we’ve got the first small reward, that we can come back in three weeks and play here in this really fantastic stadium again.”

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