Leeds must look to sign Crystal Palace star Patrick van Aanholt this summer amid Dean Windass’ transfer claim.
What’s the story?
Reports in recent days and weeks have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are eyeing up a free transfer for the Eagles full-back, whose contract with the Premier League club comes to an end this summer.
When asked by FFC on whether Leeds should make a move for the Dutchman, Windass said: “Yes. You talk about Dallas, who’s done a fantastic job, but it’s square pegs round holes, he’s not a left-back. Yes he can play left-sided, but the energy he gives, he’s had an unbelievable season. Any club could take Dallas because you know how versatile he is.
“The lad from Palace is naturally a left-back and I’m sure that he won’t be the only one to sign for Leeds this summer.”
Priority for Orta
Van Aanholt is Premier League-proven given he’s played well over 200 times in the Premier League, and as a natural left-back as Windass says, should surely open the game up more for Bielsa.
His former manager at Sunderland, Gus Poyet, raved about his attacking abilities, saying: “You need to be really on top of him for his defensive duties and maybe have people around who can help him to maintain the mentality you need to defend. He’s a very offensive full back. He has an explosive ability to go forward and help the team to create chances.
“I would say use him as much as you can on the offensive side, and convince him to help with his defensive duties. But that’s his character. It is what it is. We can’t change that and he can’t be a different player than he is.”
The £55,000-a-week earning Dutchman could be a real game-changer for Bielsa given that he would be a natural fit at left-back, and wouldn’t be someone simply covering in that position like a Dallas.
You only have to look at the lights of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alexander Robertson at Liverpool to see just how influential full-backs can be. While Van Aanholt may not be in that calibre of player, just the very fact he’s a natural left-back should add a different dimension to Leeds’ attacks.
Meanwhile, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is making a massive mistake over this star…