- Pep Guardiola wants Patrick van Aanholt as cover for injured Benjamin Mendy
- Etihad chief is eyeing a shock January move for Crystal Palace’s £12m left-back
- Fabian Delph has performed well in the role but Pep wants the Eagles’ Dutchman
- Selhurst Park boss Roy Hodgson could sell in a bid to raise funds to strengthen
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is in the hunt for £12m-rated Crystal Palace left-back Patrick van Aanholt as defensive cover for the injured Benjamin Mendy.
Despite Fabian Delph performing admirably on the left side of the backline with Danilo also being able to cover, the Eagles’ Dutchman is on boss Guardiola’s transfer wish-list.
The Dutch defender only arrived at Palace from Sunderland in January but struggling Selhurst Park supremo Roy Hodgson could sell – in a bid to raise funds to strengthen other areas during the January transfer window
Crystal Palace £12m-rated left-back Patrick van Aanholt is on Manchester City’s transfer hitlist
Van Aanholt, the talented former Chelsea youth starlet is on City boss Pep Guardiola’s wishlist
Van Aanholt had loan spells at Newcastle and Leicester before being sold to Sunderland
According to The Sun Guardiola is demanding a defensive specialist in what he sees as a key position as he steers City towards the Premier League title and a tilt at the Champions League.
The deal could happen as Hodgson already has Jeffrey Schlupp as cover with Joel Ward also turning out at left-back. Once Pape Souare returns from injury he will complement Jairo Riedewald who can undertake the role.
The deal could take place before the FA Cup third round as City boss Guardiola is desperate to sign a genuine left-back after £49.3m man Mendy suffered the serious knee injury.
City boss Guardiola wants van Aanholt at the Etihad to complement his stable of stars
Selhurst Park supremo Roy Hodgson could sell van Aanholt in bid to raise funds to strengthen
City scouted Espanyol’s Aaron Martin but doubts exist as to if he can adapt to English football
Guardiola wants van Aanholt at left-back to cover for long-term absentee Benjamin Mendy
Van Aanholt graduated from the ranks of Chelsea’s acclaimed youth academy and had spent time on loan at Newcastle United and Leicester City before being offloaded to the Black Cats for only £1.5m three years ago.
Former Stamford Bridge man Ryan Bertrand is also on Guardiola’s hit-list but Southampton are unwilling to deplete their squad by selling.
It is also believed City had a look at La Liga starlet Aaron Martin but after scouting him doubts exist whether the Espanyol and Spain Under-21 left-back is strong enough to cope with the very-particular demands of English football.