Crystal Palace are now looking to replace Joachim Andersen – but in the meantime, a target for Oliver Glasner has decided he will not be going anywhere.
It has been a frustrating summer at Selhurst Park, with Michael Olise leaving for Bayern Munich and Jordan Ayew departing for Leicester City, while there has been little to get excited about in terms of incomings.
Only Chadi Riad, Daichi Kamada and Ismaila Sarr have been signed, but none represent significant upgrades on the Crystal Palace starting XI who ended the 2023/24 campaign in such strong fashion.
So, who has now decided to reject Crystal Palace? Let’s take a look…
Aster Vranckx opts to ignore Crystal Palace and stay at VfL Wolfsburg
Sacha Tavolieri now reveals that Aster Vranckx has decided to stay with VfL Wolfsburg for the 2024/25 campaign and ignore interest from Crystal Palace.
The Belgian journalist claims that a rousing speech from Ralph Hasenhuttl convinced the Belgium international to stay in Germany – along with the promise of regular playing time.
It comes after Fabrizio Romano revealed that Crystal Palace are keen to sign Vranckx this summer.
In our view, this is not a huge issue.
Vranckx typically operates as a central midfielder, an area where we already have plenty of fantastic options, to the point where a player as talented as Cheick Doucoure is yet to receive any minutes in the Premier League so far this season.
Oliver Glasner in a better position to sign different VfL Wolfsburg player
While Vranckx now seems unlikely to leave VfL Wolfsburg for Crystal Palace, Maxence Lacroix does look set to join the Eagles.
We Are Palace understand that a £14m bid has been made for Lacroix – which the German outfit are happy to accept – and Glasner should soon be reunited with the Frenchman, who he actually signed for VfL Wolfsburg.
The aforementioned Hasenhuttl has also backtracked on his statement that the central defender will stay with VfL Wolfsburg, saying: “I already knew when I said it that it wasn’t very smart. I let myself be carried away. In that moment, it perhaps wasn’t the best statement.”
Therefore, while Vranckx may not be swapping VfL Wolfsburg for Crystal Palace anytime soon, Lacroix does seem likely to make the move before Friday’s transfer deadline.
