Your last sentence raises an interesting point.i don't mind us walking away from any deal if the goal posts keep moving, or we don't think it represents value for money, however, we desperately need a plan B option.
Regardless of whether we are to play 3 CBS or a back 4 we need one who can win 80% plus of headers.
Riad and Canvot can play second fiddle with another defender who can organise and control the defence.
Richards is ok, but not sure he can step up into the Lacroix role.
If the plan B is a 19 year old kid, an injury prone Japanese player and/or an overpriced Chelsea cast off we are in trouble.
Hopefully Sage has a potential alternative up his sleeve.
What if Matsima was Sage's choice given the knowledge that Lacroix was moving?
Managers tend to be less to be less concerned with why moves fail, they just want the player.
It's said that everything was in place with Matsima, and I'd be very surprised if Sage wasn't in the discussions with him.
The move for Tomiyasu to possibly be an alternative to Lacroix has echoes of when we tried to fob off Glasner by offering Igor as an alternative for Guehi.
I like Parish, understand that we are in relative terms small fry, but nonetheless am baffled by our approach to transfer dealings.
If we can't bolster our centre back ranks with a first team ready player and are looking to rely on an injury prone Riad, Tomiyasu (who is really a right back) or a young French player with 6 professional appearances, then Lerma may be our best signing of the summer.
At least he has demonstrated that he can play in the back 3 in the Premier League and understands the way we play.