According to Football.London, Arsenal are still considering a move to sign Patrick van Aanholt on a free transfer this summer.
Arsenal are expected to let Sead Kolasinac leave this summer, with Edu now in the market for another left back to support Kieran Tierney.
A number of names have been linked, but Arsenal could end up going back in for Van Aanholt after January links.
Arsenal’s interest in Van Aanholt
The Mirror reported in January that Arsenal were keen on signing Van Aanholt having failed to land his Crystal Palace teammate Tyrick Mitchell.
Arsenal didn’t end up signing Van Aanholt, but it’s now claimed that the Gunners are considering going back in for him this summer if they can’t find a younger left back.
Van Aanholt is available for free having been released by Palace, and could be something of a stop-gap addition at 30.
Gary Neville’s criticism
Van Aanholt has always been dangerous going forward with his pace down the left flank, and he’s playing in a left wing back role for the Netherlands at Euro 2020.
Going the other way though, Van Aanholt isn’t as impressive. His defensive frailties have been an issue for years, and are unlikely to improve as he approaches 31.
Just last week, Gary Neville branded Van Aanholt a ‘poor defender’ during Netherlands’s 3-2 win over Ukraine, branding one lapse in positioning and a rash challenge ‘typical’ of the left back.
That may worry Arsenal fans, especially as Van Aanholt may be required to fill in regularly due to Kieran Tierney’s injury problems, but much will depend on Edu’s other targets.
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