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Exclusive: CL big hitters plotting to sign Crystal Palace star on pre-contract Jan deal
Ajax are lining up a move for Crystal Palace star Patrick van Aanholt ahead of the January window, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
The Champions League big hitters are eyeing the left-back as a potential replacement for Nicolas Tagliafico.
He was strongly linked with a move away from Ajax in the summer and could still leave in January or next summer.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Ajax are drawing up a list of replacements and Van Aaanholt figures highly on their wanted list.
The Holland international is out of contract at Selhurst Park next summer and, as revealed by this site last week, talks over a new deal have stalled.
The Premier League club opened negotiations with the 30-year-old in September to extend his current terms.
With an agreement not close, the door is open for rival clubs to swoop and Ajax could try to sign Van Aanholt on a pre-contract in January ahead of competing a free transfer at the end of the season.
Van Aanholt, who moved to England to join Chelsea’s youth system from PSV Eindhoven, has established himself as Palace’s first-choice left-back since signing from Sunderland in January 2017.
He has made 115 appearances and scored 14 goals for the Eagles to date, while he has also earned nine Holland caps.
He missed the start of this season after dislocating his shoulder in July but has started Palace’s last three Premier League matches.
He played the full 90 minutes of Monday night’s 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.
Van Aanholt has extensive Premier League experience from spells with Chelsea, Wigan, Sunderland and Palace as well as loans at Leicester City and Newcastle United.
In other news, Crystal Palace star tipped for Leeds United move after pundit reveals all.