- Crystal Palace receieve good Maxence Lacroix news
- Oliver Glasner still ‘loving’ his job
- Club ready to accept lower fee for Jean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace start the week with a huge encounter with relegation-battling West Ham United. Oliver Glasner is taking charge of one of his final games as Eagles boss.
Jean-Philippe Mateta might also be playing the final two months of his spell at Selhurst Park. There are plenty of changes on the horizon this summer, and those two will likely have moved on.
Palace are in high spirits after booking their place in the UEFA Conference League semi-finals. A 2-1 loss to Fiorentina last Thursday meant the South Londoners advanced on aggregate with a 4-2 win.
Lacroix Available vs West Ham
The game in Florence didn’t come without its issues, especially on the fitness front. Adam Wharton was forced off after picking up an adductor problem, the same issue that led him to withdraw from England duty midway through March’s international break.
Maxence Lacroix also came off in the first half against Fiorentina after sustaining a knee injury. But unlike Wharton, who is doubtful for tonight’s game, the Frenchman is expected to be involved.
It’s good news for Glasner, as he won’t want Lacroix sidelined at such an important stage of the season. The chances of him starting against West Ham might not be high, though, given he’s only just recovered from his injury.
Glasner ‘Loving’ Latter Stages of Reign
There are just seven league games left of Glasner’s historic reign at Selhurst Park including the clash with West Ham. The Austrian is leaving the club when his contract expires in June but he could do so by guiding the Eagles to Conference League glory.
Glasner has insisted he is enjoying himself as he prepares to close the book on his Palace tenure. He told reporters:
“For me it’s easy because I’m doing this job, because I’m loving this job and then it’s always 100 per cent. That sentiment captures the tone around the club. There is no sense of drift or distraction. Instead, there is a manager intent on ensuring standards do not slip, even as his tenure approaches its conclusion.“
There’s no word on where Glasner could be headed once he does depart, but he’ll do so as the greatest manager in the club’s history. He led the South London outfit to the FA Cup last season and the Community Shield in this campaign’s curtain raiser.
Palace Open to Cut-Price Mateta Sale
Glasner could be joined by Mateta in leaving through the Selhurst Park exit door this summer. The French striker’s future is still in doubt despite failing a medical ahead of a proposed £30m move to AC Milan in January.
Reports claim that Milan could come back in for the 28-year-old, who will have a year left on his contract. It’s also reported that his price has now been lowered to £20m.
Mateta has been with the club since January 2022 and has grown into one of their best frontmen. He sits on 13 goals in 40 games across competitions this season.
