Pep Guardiola looking to drive a bargain for £12million Crystal Palace full-back Patrick van Aanholt

PATRICK VAN AANHOLT is the shock name on Pep Guardiola’s transfer hit-list.

Manchester City boss Guardiola is desperate for left-back cover following the cruciate knee injury sustained by £49.3million signing Benjamin Mendy.

And he's ready to turn to Van Aanholt.

The Dutch ace arrived at Crystal Palace from Sunderland in January but Eagles chief Roy Hodgson could cash in to recoup the £12million fee.

Hodgson boasts Jeffrey Schlupp as cover and has played Joel Ward at left-back, with Pape Souare returning from injury and Jairo Riedewald also able to play full-back.

Fabian Delph has filled in superbly  at left-back for City, plus  Danilo can play there. But Guardiola wants a specialist in the position for the second half of the season — when he hopes City will be competing for both the Premier League and Champions League crowns.

Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand is also on Guardiola’s  list but could prove difficult to get out of St Mary’s. City  had a look at Espanyol and Spain Under-21 star Aaron Martin  but they have doubts whether he can adapt to English football.

Van Aanholt came through Chelsea’s youth ranks and had loan spells at Newcastle and Leicester before being sold to Sunderland for just £1.5m in 2014.