According to The Evening Standard, Crystal Palace have no intention of selling Patrick van Aanholt this month despite concrete interest from his former club PSV Eindhoven.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Eredivisie outfit submitted a £4.2m bid for the left-back’s services, which The Evening Standard described as “derisory” – it has not been revealed whether or not that offer has been rejected or not, although Sky Sports believe that it will be.
The 29-year-old has 18 months left on his contract at Selhurst Park, and is the club’s only senior left-back.
Jeffrey Schlupp and Jairo Riedewald – who are more suited to midfield – have been covering for the former Chelsea and Sunderland man at times throughout the campaign while he has been injured, although they are not natural options for the role.
The correct decision
Why on Earth would the south Londoners allow their only left-back to leave the club?
Even if Hodgson did manage to get another player in that position to Selhurst Park, keeping Van Aanholt at the club would still be necessary – who said you can only have one natural left-back at a time?
Football Insider have revealed that talks are at an advanced stage between Norwich and Palace over left-back Jamal Lewis’ signature, but even if the Northern Ireland international arrived, it would still make sense to keep the Dutchman on the books.
So far, Palace have only made one signing for the first-team in Cenk Tosun, while Joel Ward and Van Aanholt are Hodgson’s only natural full-back options for the right and left side of defence respectively.
For away day veterans only: Can you name all of these defunct stadiums?
In that case, selling the 9-cap Netherlands international would represent a huge backwards step in a window where failing to add another left-back could even be deemed as a failure given the circumstances – if that would signal a failure, just imagine what selling Van Aanholt could be considered.
In other news, these Crystal Palace fans have reacted to “the most Palace thing ever”…