Crystal Palace have had to cope with some huge losses from their squad in the past few seasons.
The Eagles have managed to flip some of the biggest stars for a profit, with Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze both leaving in the last few summer transfer windows, joining Bayern Munich and Arsenal, respectively.
This winter, it was club captain and key defender Marc Guehi who departed the club. He made the move to Manchester City, which signalled his intent to compete at the highest level and compete for the biggest trophies.
Of course, losing their skipper and talisman in January has not been an easy thing for Palace to contend with.
Why losing Guehi has been such a blow
England international Guehi played a huge role in such a historic campaign for the Eagles last season.
He was the man who lifted the FA Cup at Wembley in May, after Oliver Glasner’s side beat his current club, Man City, in the capital.
He was an integral part of Glasner’s side during the project at Selhurst Park.
He played 80 games under the tutelage of the Austrian, scoring and assisting six goals apiece, showing the value he brought to the squad outside of the defensive side of his game.
As a defender, some of his numbers were stellar. Last season for the South London side, he made an average of 4.3 ball recoveries and won 4.94 duels per 90 minutes on average. On the ball, he completed 3.32 long balls each game on average.
As the stats show, it was a blow to lose the England star, with Glasner claiming “it is not possible to find a replacement,” especially on short notice.
Perhaps, then, the reported £20m fee they got for Guehi from City did them a disservice.
Yet, incredibly, the Eagles have a player in the squad worth far more than their ex-captain.
The Crystal Palace star worth more than Guehi
Selhurst Park has become a place where exciting young talent ply their trade, which, in turn, attracts the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Glasner could drop Strand Larsen & unleash Crystal Palace’s new Zaha
Crystal Palace have their sights set on winning the Conference League before several inevitable departures.
Guehi’s move to Manchester is the latest example of this trend.
Yet, Palace still boast some talented players, with French centre-back Maxence Lacroix one of the players amongst the best in their squad.
Described as a “sensational” defender by scout Antonio Mango, he has shone for the Eagles.
This term under Glasner, the importance of the former Wolfsburg player has been noticeable, especially since Guehi’s departure.
He’s played 43 times across all competitions, even skippering the side in their recent Europa Conference League win over AEK Larnaca.
Some of the 25-year-old’s numbers from this season highlight why he is such a key player, just as their former captain was.
For example, Lacroix averages 5.9 duels won per 90 minutes, more than Guehi last term, and amongst the top 21% of Premier League centre-backs.
|
Lacroix – 25/26 PL stats |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90) |
Number |
Rank |
|
Duels won |
5.9 |
Top 21% |
|
Aerial duels won |
3.37 |
Top 24% |
|
Tackles |
1.81 |
Top 25% |
|
Clearances |
7.35 |
Top 10% |
|
Long balls completed |
48.6% |
Top 23% |
|
Stats from Fotmob |
||
When you consider those underlying statistics from the top flight this term, and how important he is to Glasner, it might not be a surprise to learn that Lacroix is valued highly by Transfermarkt.
According to the website, he is worth £34.7m, which is a higher fee than at any point in his career, showing the progression he’s made. To be worth almost £15m more than the fee Guehi was sold for speaks volumes about the quality he possesses.
Palace will surely be hoping they can hold onto the Frenchman a little while longer, especially after losing Guehi so recently.
Yet, there is no denying the quality he has, and if they do have to sell him at some stage in the future, Steve Parish will surely be looking to recoup as much of that valuation as possible, and more.
Glasner could drop Strand Larsen & unleash Crystal Palace’s new Zaha
Crystal Palace have their sights set on winning the Conference League before several inevitable departures.
