Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce is looking to bring Yann M’Vila and Patrick van Aanholt, both of whom he worked with in his spell at Sunderland, to South East London, reports suggest. The former England manager wants to strengthen his side as they prepare for what should be an intense relegation battle. The duo were a key part of Sunderland’s fight for survival last season.
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26-year-old M’Vila, who plays for Russian side Rubin Kazan, joined the Black Cats on loan last season and impressed with his consistent performances. He has made 22 appearances for France and would be an important addition to a Palace midfield which has struggled without the services of Mile Jedinak.
Van Aanholt, also 26, has been at the North East side since he signed from Chelsea in 2014. One of his team’s best players, he would make a huge difference to a defence which has been without a natural left-back since Papa Souaré’s injury. He has made six appearances for the Netherlands.
Allegedly, Palace submitted a bid for van Aanholt worth £9m, rising to £12m. Reports suggest that a bid of £11m will be needed to prize M’Vila away from Russia. The club, sponsored by Mansioncasino online casino website, are willing to let the manager spend big in order to avoid playing in the Championship next season. Carl Jenkinson could be about to seal a £7m move from Arsenal, but his wage demands have caused the deal to stall for the time being. Christopher Samba, currently a free agent, has been offered a trial. The 32-year-old spent two years working with Allardyce at Blackburn Rovers.
Palace currently sit in 18th place, two points off safety. They have not won a Premier League match since the 3rd December, when they beat Southampton 3-0. The club will be hoping that by bolstering their squad they will be able to avoid the drop.
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