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West Ham are crying out for a left back with the quality and defensive solidity to compliment the ever-improving Felipe Anderson, and they should shock fans by moving for Patrick van Aanholt.

What's the word?

The left back position has become the biggest question mark in Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham, team, as neither of Arthur Masuaku or Aaron Cresswell have really made the spot their own.

The Hammers are looking better every week going forward, but they are still vulnerable at the back, and that is due mainly to both Cresswell and Masuaku being poor defensively.

Van Aanholt offers just as much if not more than the pair in the attacking third, but has also proven during his time at Crystal Palace that he is an extremely solid defender as well.

Why do they need him?

The first requirement for a Pellegrini full back is quality in the final third, something that Pablo Zabaleta has shown consistently for years.

Van Aanholt could be the perfect compliment to the ageing Argentinian on the other flank, and his pace and vision will cause nightmares for opposing teams alongside summer signing Anderson.

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The Crystal Palace defender has 16 Premier League goals and 11 assists, incredible statistics for a defender, but has also developed defensively since Roy Hodgson arrived at Selhurst Park.

He is averaging 1.1 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.9 clearances per game this season, and has completely eradicated the rash mistakes he made earlier in his career, mistakes that both Masuaku and Cresswell are still making.

The Hammers have shown in the past they are more than willing to target players from rival Premier League sides, and they could even use Cresswell in a player-plus-cash deal, so should they move for van Aanholt?

Hammers’ fans, let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…