According to reports in The Sun on Sunday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is lining up a shock move for Crystal Palace left-back as he looks to bring in cover for the injured Benjamin Mendy during the January transfer window.

The summer addition suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury that could keep him out of action for the entire season, with Guardiola playing Fabian Delph and Danilo out of position there since.

However, The Sun on Sunday says that van Aanholt, who cost the bottom-of-the-table Eagles £12m when they signed him from Sunderland in January of this year, has caught his eye and he could move for the 27-year-old in the New Year.

Meanwhile, Everton have the joint-second worst defensive record in the Premier League this term having conceded 24 goals in 12 games, and it is an area that they Merseyside outfit will surely be looking to strengthen in January if they are to move up the table in the second-half of the campaign.

Here are three reasons Everton should hijack Man City's bid to sign van Aanholt…

The decline of Leighton Baines

While Baines has been a brilliant player for Everton over the course of the last 10 and a bit seasons, there is no doubt that he isn't have the same effect that he once did from left-back for the Merseyside outfit.

Turning 33 years of age next month, the former Wigan Athletic man struggles to get up and down the flank like he used to and both the Toffees' attacking and defensive play have taken a hit as a result.

Baines doesn't really have too much specialist competition in his position either, with Brendan Galloway out on loan at Sunderland and Luke Garbutt not registered in the club's 25-man Premier League squad.

It means that a new left-back could be a priority in the New Year, and Everton could certainly do a lot worse than to snap up van Aanholt ahead of City.

His attacking abilities

While some may still questions van Aanholt's defensive contribution – according to Squawka he has made 15 clearances, 14 interceptions and three blocks in eight Premier League appearances this season – the same can't be said of his attacking play.

The pacy 27-year-old has shown his ability to get forward and beat his opponents by successfully completing seven on the eight take-ons he has attempted for the Eagles this term, while the Dutchman's return of five goals and one assist in 32 outings for Sunderland and Palace last term wasn't too shabby considering both were struggling at the bottom of the top flight at the time.

Pep Guardiola interest

The fact that Guardiola is interested in bringing van Aanholt to his table-topping Manchester City side should be enough to convince Everton that he is good enough for them as well.

At 27 years of age the Dutchman should be approaching the prime years of his career and having seen the impact he has made at struggling teams like Sunderland and Crystal Palace, you do have to wonder how well he could do for a club that isn't battling relegation – something the Toffees hopefully won't be doing in the second-half of the campaign.

Do you agree, Toffees fans? Let us know below.