Mills: Van Aanholt ‘would take Leeds to next level’ as rival offer tabled

Patrick van Aanholt would take Leeds United “to the next level” and would be a great replacement for exit-bound Ezgjan Alioski, according to Danny Mills.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider the ex-Whites and England defender insisted the 30-year-old would give Marcelo Bielsa’s side some much-needed Premier League experience.

Football Insider revealed Alioski has agreed a pre-contract with Leeds’ arch-rivals Galatasaray and will make the switch in the summer.

He will be followed out of the Elland Road exit door by Barry Douglas who is currently on loan with Blackburn Rovers and will officially leave Leeds when his contract expires in the summer.

The Mirror report Leeds are eyeing up Crystal Palace star van Aanholt ahead of the summer window.

The Dutchman will be a free agent at the end of the season and has also been offered a contract by Galatasaray.

Asked whether he thinks Van Aanholt would be a good replacement for Alioski at Leeds, Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Yes, I do.

“I think he’s a good player. He’s got an awful lot of quality to offer. He’s somebody with experience, he’s been in the Premier League now for some time.

“Someone with experience that comes in and do a really good job. He’s an international.

“He adds more quality and maybe that’s the sort of signing that takes Leeds to the next level.”

Van Aanholt has played over 200 Premier League games across spells with Chelsea, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and Palace.

He has 18 top-flight games under his belt this term, including 17 starts.

In other news, Leeds United are in the hunt to sign an Argentina star with a £62m release clause.