Arsenal are reportedly eager to snap up ex-Chelsea defender Patrick van Aanholt Monday’s transfer deadline to bolster their left-back options.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Arsenal’s search for a left-back this month has seen them turn their attention towards Patrick van Aanholt. The former Chelsea defender could be available for a late transfer before the January transfer window slams shut on Monday.
Patrick van Aanholt started his senior club career at Chelsea but never managed to establish himself in the Blues’ first-team setup. After a number of loan spells away from Stamford Bridge, Chelsea hauled off the Dutchman permanently in 2014, when he joined Sunderland. After three years with the Black Cats, the 30-year-old made his way to Crystal Palace.
The player has been a key figure for the Eagles over the past few years but has had a major battle on his hands for the left-back slot in the form of Tyrick Mitchell. As a result, he has started just 11 of the 23 games that Palace have played this season. With his contract at Selhurst Park set to run out in the summer, Palace are open to offloading van Aanholt this month, which has alerted Arsenal.
Arsenal are in the market for a left-back after sending Sead Kolasinac out on loan to Schalke. With the Bosnian not having much of a future at the Emirates, it is not surprising that the Gunners are in search of a recognised left-back, with Mikel Arteta’s only other options apart from Kieran Tierney being makeshift candidates in Cedric Soares and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Maitland-Niles, too, faces an uncertain future at Arsenal, while Cedric is Hector Bellerin’s competitor for the right-back berth. To that end, the north Londoners have reportedly drawn up a shortlist of candidates to come in and provide cover for Tierney, with another ex-Chelsea defender, Ryan Bertrand, being linked with a possible January move.
Now, van Aanholt has also popped up on the radar of Arsenal, who have also reportedly considered a move for his teammate Mitchell. However, as per the report, Crystal Palace view Mitchell as the long-term solution at left-back and instead consider van Aanholt as an expendable option this month.
In fact, Palace could even be tempted to cash in on the former Chelsea star in the ongoing window instead of running the risk of losing him for free in the summer. With van Aanholt having years of experience in the Premier League under his belt, he could be a fine addition to the Arsenal squad, and it remains to be seen if they succeed in swooping him away from Selhurst Park ahead of the deadline on Monday.
