Crystal Palace ready to sell top star rather than lose him for nothing
Reports claim Crystal Palace might consider selling Patrick van Aanholt during the January transfer window rather than risk losing him for nothing.
The 30-year-old has been with the Eagles since January 2017 and made 121 appearances in all competitions. However, he will fall out of contract in the summer and is already free to talk to foreign clubs.
Capped 12 times by the Netherlands, the left-back has been a reliable player for Palace. But the emergence of 21-year-old Tyrick Mitchell has thrown doubt on his future.
The young Londoner has impressed during his last two starts, with van Aanholt on the bench. The Sun are suggesting that boss Roy Hodgson will now look to cash in on the former Sunderland man.
It seems likely that Mitchell will continue in his current position, meaning just a peripheral role for the much-travelled veteran.
Van Aanholt was on the books at Chelsea for five years but rarely played for the Blues. He went on loan to Coventry, Newcastle, Leicester, Wigan and Vitesse before arriving at Sunderland.
He has been a reliable defender while also scoring 14 goals for the south Londoners. Hodgson is said to be keen to strengthen this month and so a fee for Van Aanholt would not go amiss.
Jairo Riedewald can also play on the left side of defence and so the veteran manager has plenty of options.
Bigger fish to fry
Although van Aanholt’s future is a pressing issue, the saga surrounding Wilfried Zaha dwarfs it in comparison. The Ivory Coast forward’s future is the subject of many column inches every transfer window.
He has been linked with many top clubs but Palace have always managed to keep them at bay. It has not always sat well with the player, who favours a move to a bigger club.
And now one of the biggest in Europe might be about to throw their hat into the ring. Paris Saint-Germain seem in pole for his signature with Mauricio Pochettino at the helm.
The former Tottenham chief was unveiled as the club’s new manager on January 2. The Argentinian is a known admirer of the 28-year-old flyer, who has scored eight goals this term.
Hodgson appears unconcerned by the rumours but understands why he is in demand.
“There has been so much speculation regarding Wilf over the years that I tend to let those concerns disappear, as they often do,” he said prior to the Sheffield United game.
“Wilf’s good and it doesn’t surprise me that there’s clubs out there who would like to sign him, but a lot of things have to be put in place before a player leaves a club.”
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