Newcastle United may be in the market for a left back this summer, with Danny Rose a potential permanent signing following his loan spell.
However, another option emerged in the press over the weekend, with Patrick van Aanholt linked.
The Sun (19 July, page 60) reported that Newcastle are keen to sign Van Aanholt, in what would be a return to Tyneside.
Van Aanholt spent time out on loan at Newcastle in 2010 as he attempted to break through with Chelsea, making seven appearances for the Magpies.
The 29-year-old is now an established Premier League left back, with his attacking play particularly impressive; he now has 14 goals and five assists in 111 games for Cystal Palace.
Signing him won’t be easy given that Palace will want to keep him, and Van Aanholt actually spoke recently about his time in the North East.
Van Aanholt told the Counter Attack Podcast in May that he ‘loved’ his time at Newcastle, but enjoyed dominating them in derbies whilst playing for Sunderland.
The defender added that Newcastle fans actually booed him earlier this season, but it didn’t bother him at all because he scored the winner against them.
“I have been at Newcastle and I have been at Sunderland so I have been at both clubs,” said Van Aanholt. “I was only on loan at Newcastle though but I loved my time at Newcastle. I was young but I loved it.”
“But in my time at Sunderland, I have to say it, we dominated the derbies. We drew one and the rest we won. When we played Newcastle at home this season they booed me but I scored the winner from a free-kick so it didn’t bother me!” he added.
With Rose, Javi Manquillo and DeAndre Yedlin at Newcastle right now, the Magpies are no strangers to supporting ex-Sunderland full backs, though some may take some time to welcome Van Aanholt again.
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