Crystal Palace have stepped up their pursuit of Augsburg defender Chrislain Matsima by submitting an improved bid worth €25 million. The Premier League club are racing to secure a replacement for Maxence Lacroix, who is set to complete a £52 million transfer to Chelsea.
Increased offer
The South London club initially offered €20 million for the 24-year-old French centre-back, only for the Bundesliga side to reject the approach. Palace have now returned with a revised €25 million proposal as negotiations between the two clubs continue.
Matsima has already agreed personal terms with Crystal Palace and is eager to make the switch to Selhurst Park. The defender sees the move as an opportunity to test himself in English football following his recovery from a serious injury that sidelined him for 15 matches last term.
Augsburg’s position
The Bavarian club signed Matsima permanently from Monaco last summer for just €5 million, meaning the current offer would represent a significant profit. However, Augsburg may hold out for a fee closer to their club-record sale of €26 million, which Chelsea paid for Ghanaian left-back Abdul Rahman Baba a decade ago.
Matsima played a key role in Augsburg securing one of their best league finishes in the Bundesliga before his injury lay-off. He made his return at the back end of the season and featured in their recent pre-season schedule. On Saturday, Augsburg drew 1-1 with Saarbrücken, with Mert Kömür scoring a late equaliser from a direct corner-kick. Kömür has been linked with a move to Hull City.
Defensive reshuffle
The potential acquisition of Matsima forms part of a defensive rebuild at Palace following their UEFA Conference League triumph. Lacroix is scheduled to undergo his medical at Stamford Bridge imminently, leaving the club with limited options at centre-back.
Crystal Palace are working to ensure new arrivals are bedded in before the Premier League campaign begins. Whether Augsburg accept the €25 million bid or demand a record-breaking fee remains the key question as talks progress.