Jorg Schmadtke has told Sport Buzzer Wolfsburg will keep Maxence Lacroix having failed to receive a satisfactory offer from RB Leipzig for the rumoured Tottenham Hotspur target.
Wolfsburg were open to selling Lacroix this summer but demanded their Bundesliga rivals paid €30m (£26m) for the centre-half. Leipzig have been unwilling to rise to Die Wolfe’s price, however, with two bids falling considerably short of Schmadtke’s valuation.
Lacroix, for his part, signalled his willingness to swap the Volkswagen Arena for the Red Bull Arena. Now, though, Wolfsburg Managing Director Schmadtke expects the 21-year-old will focus on helping Mark van Bommel’s side after addressing his future at a pre-season camp.
Reports by Sky Germany of Leipzig’s interest in Lacroix also added Tottenham were rivalling them for the Wolfsburg defender. Although Spurs had not made an offer, Schmadtke’s remarks could see their pursuit never reaches that stage.
Schmadtke noted last month that: “We will not drag the topic with us through the entire preparation process. We don’t sit around waiting for a decision, we are part of that decision. At some point, we will say: Now is good.”
And Schmadtke feels Wolfsburg have reached that point, stating: “We rejected everything and the subject is now over! Maxence stays.” He also adds the centre-back and Leipzig “knows [their position] and that is the most important thing.
“He’s in the process of fending off balls [in training]. Just like a defender does. So everything is fine.”
Tottenham can sign blistering pace in Wolfsburg star Lacroix
Schmadtke may have ended Tottenham’s interest in Lacroix before the wheels really began to turn. Wolfsburg will surely now put a fence around the Frenchman, keeping him at the Volkswagen Arena and focusing his mind on the new Bundesliga campaign.
Lacroix has only been at Die Wolfe for a year after joining from Sochaux for €5m (£4.3m) last summer. But he quickly became an essential piece of the Wolfsburg puzzle, starting 29 of his 30 Bundesliga appearances, while offering a goal and two assists.
He is also rapid, with Sky Germany noting the France U20 international was among the four fastest players across the Bundesliga last term with a top speed of 35.8 kmh (22.2 mph). With Tottenham now looking to sell Davinson Sanchez, Lacroix would have been handy.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
