Crystal Palace transfer news: Olympic medallist ‘under consideration’ amid Maxence Lacroix uncertainty

Crystal Palace person identified Augsburg centre-back Chrislain Matsima arsenic a imaginable summertime target, according to a report.

The Eagles are preparing for the 2026-27 run nether caller caput manager Pierre Sage pursuing the departure of Oliver Glasner, who steered the nine to Conference League glory past season.

Maxence Lacroix has been a standout performer for Palace implicit the past 2 seasons and his awesome signifier is understood to person caught the attraction of European clubs including Chelsea.

Palace are yet to person immoderate ceremonial approaches for Lacroix, who is viewed arsenic a cardinal portion of Sage’s first-team plans for adjacent play and inactive has 3 years remaining connected his contract.

However, should involvement successful his services intensify and the imaginable of leaving Selhurst Park grows, Palace look to person already earmarked 24-year-old Matsima arsenic a imaginable replacement.

Matsima among centre-backs ‘under consideration’ by Palace

According to the Evening Standard, Palace clasp an involvement Matsima and portion talks with Augsburg are yet to instrumentality place, the Frenchman is 1 of a fig of centre-back options nether consideration.

Palace had been credited with an involvement successful English defender Charlie Cresswell, but it is understood that the 23-year-old is acceptable to swap Toulouse for chap Ligue 1 nine Rennes.

Matsima was an integral portion of Augsburg’s backline past play earlier helium sustained a superior tendon teardrop successful January that forced him to walk 4 months connected the sidelined.

He made a full of 18 Bundesliga appearances successful the 2025-26 run for an Augsburg broadside who finished 10th successful the array and narrowly missed retired connected European qualification.

Matsima joined Augsburg connected a imperishable woody from Monaco successful January 2025 aft an archetypal indebtedness spell and his declaration with the German nine expires successful June 2030.

Known for his strength, velocity and no-nonsense attack to defending, Matsima is simply a 6ft 4in centre-back who won an Olympic Silver medal with France astatine the 2024 Olympics, moving nether caput manager Thierry Henry and playing alongside Palace striker Jean-Philippe Matata.

Should Palace opt to measurement up their pursuit of Matsima, they whitethorn look stern contention for his services arsenic reports successful Germany assertion that Bayern Munich person made enquiries implicit the defender’s availability.