Crystal Palace have found perfect Maxence Lacroix replacement, 4.47 and 73.6% stats prove it

Crystal Palace are looking to bring in Augsburg ace Chrislain Matsima this summer to replace Maxence Lacroix.

The Eagles star looks set to move to Chelsea in the coming days after a fee was agreed with the Blues for the centre-back.

Therefore, Palace are in need of a replacement, and reports have emerged that a £17.1million bid was submitted to Augsburg for Matsima.

The Bundesliga outfit rejected this offer, but an improved bid is expected to come in on Friday for the 24-year-old.

Replacing Lacroix will be a difficult task for Palace, with the centre-back being fundamental to their recent success, including their Conference League triumph last season.

However, the stats indicate that the centre-back could be an excellent replacement for Lacroix ahead of the new campaign.

Chrislain Matsima has some excellent stats

Matsima has emerged as a top talent at Augsburg after joining the club permanently in 2025.

Last season, he was part of the squad that narrowly missed out on European football as they finished ninth, four points off seventh.

The defender was fundamental to their success and had a great overall campaign.

According to Fotmob on 24 July, he won averaged 1.81 interceptions, 1.21 blocked shots, 4.47 recoveries, 5.56 clearances, a 66.0 per cent duels won rate, and a 73.6 aerial duels won rate per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga.

In comparison, Lacroix averaged 1.31 interceptions, 0.52 blocked shots, 2.74 recoveries, 7.35 clearances, a 61.3 per cent duels won rate, and a 61.3 aerial duels won rate per 90 minutes in the Premier League.

Therefore, every sign points towards Matsima being a great replacement for the Eagles' star this summer.

As a result, if Florian Plettenberg’s report is right, Palace could see another bargain buy walk through the doors at Selhurst Park this summer.

Who else could leave Crystal Palace this summer?

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that a big offer from Nottingham Forest could convince Phillipe-Jean Matate to make a move to the City Ground this summer.

The striker has been heavily linked with a departure and is believed to want Champions League football.

The France international has just one year remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park and is unlikely to sign a new deal, meaning a sale is likely this summer.

However, instead of a move to a big club abroad, he could instead link up with Oliver Glasner at Forest over the coming weeks.