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Report: Palace reviving Van Aanholt deal in defensive recruitment drive

Lee Smith / Reuters

Sam Allardyce is apparently returning to old haunt Sunderland to try tempting Patrick van Aanholt to Crystal Palace.

The Eagles have already had a £7-million offer dismissed by Allardyce's former employer, according to The Mirror's John Cross, but the burly gaffer has made a fresh approach to nab the Dutch left-back.

It's part of what could be wholesale changes to Crystal Palace's defence - the joint-third worst in the Premier League - with Van Aanholt potentially one of three desired additions over the January transfer window: two full-backs and a centre-half.

Palace could sell France international midfielder Yohan Cabaye to free up funds for what could be a busy month, with Montpellier defender William Remy also high on Allardyce's wish list.

Interest has cooled in Juventus' Patrice Evra, who represented Manchester United between 2006 and 2014, due to his wage demands, and the Van Aanholt pursuit could also prove tricky.

Black Cats boss David Moyes is reluctant to lose any players during a transfer window which promises very little cash should he want to recruit, while rivals in the relegation battle - including Palace - are freely spending in a bid to secure their top-flight statuses.

But the decision to let Van Aanholt go could come from above, with the Sunderland hierarchy desperately looking to balance the books after years of vast and desperate expenditure prompted by habitually squabbling to get out of the bottom three.

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