In a recent report, Jeunes Footeux mentioned that West Ham United are locked in a three-way battle for VfL Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix. It has been claimed that the Hammers could face competition in the form of Aston Villa and Newcastle United in pursuit of the French centre-back.
Lacroix’s Decent Form At The Volkswagen Arena
Lacroix is enjoying an impressive campaign in German football as he has managed to put in a series of solid performances at the heart of Wolfsburg’s backline. The French talent has made 36 appearances for the German side this season across multiple competitions.
The ex-Sochaux talent has proven himself to be a valuable contributor on the defensive third of the pitch by averaging 2.0 tackles, 2.1 interceptions and 4.8 clearances per 90 minutes in Bundesliga. He has evenn been tidy when distributing possession from the back, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 81.4% in the German top tier (stats via whoscored).
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Is Lacroix A Good Option For West Ham United Boss David Moyes?
Lacroix is a good tackler of the ball and can make a few crucial interceptions at the back when he is playing well on the field. He can read the danger well and doesn’t mind clearing his lines when the opposition are on the front foot.
Standing at 1.90m, the Frenchman can be a towering figure at both ends of the field. Plus, he is proficient at playing his way out from the back which makes him a good option for David Moyes‘ style of play at the London Stadium.
At 22, Lacroix will only get better with each season. Thus, the Hammers should think about getting a deal done for him during the summer transfer period. We can expect the Wolfsburg star to add more bite and steel to West Ham‘s backline. He could even serve as a decent replacement for Angelo Ogbonna whose contract at the East London club is set to expire in the summer.
However, there are some concerns over whether Lacroix is good enough to cope with the physical nature and high intensity of English football. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting him, so Moyes should try everything in his power to land him in this off-season.
