• Sam Allardyce hopes Dutchman will be first of two arrivals this week • Defender starred in Sunderland’s escape under Allardyce last season

Crystal Palace are close to reaching an agreement with their relegation rivals Sunderland to sign Patrick van Aanholt in a deal that could rise to £12m, with Sam Allardyce hopeful the Dutch full-back will be the first of two new arrivals at Selhurst Park this week.

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Van Aanholt, a £1.5m signing from Chelsea in the summer of 2014, has been a regular in the Sunderland side since he joined but has not convinced the current manager, David Moyes, of his defensive prowess. Allardyce, however, eked more convincing form from the Holland international while in charge of Sunderland last season, with the 26-year-old a key performer in the club’s late sprint away from trouble.

Palace have been without a natural, senior left-back since Pape Souaré broke his thigh bone and jaw in a car crash on the M3 in September. The Senegalese – whose injuries had previously cast doubts over his future in the game – returned to light training at Beckenham last week but will not feature again this season. That has prompted bids for a number of left-sided defenders, from Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies to Charlie Taylor at Leeds, Robbie Brady at Norwich to Juventus’s Patrice Evra.

Among those was a £7m bid submitted for Van Aanholt last week in the hope it might tempt Sunderland into a sale, only for the Wearside club to reject the offer. Palace have returned with an improved proposal, believed to be worth an initial £9m but potentially rising to £12m depending on achievements and appearances, to which Sunderland are apparently more receptive. They are seeking to raise funds to secure their own reinforcements in what remains of the transfer window, while Van Aanholt is understood to have made clear he is keen on a move to Selhurst Park.

Allardyce hopes to make at least two additions this week, following on from the purchase of Jeffrey Schlupp from Leicester, with his priority after a left-back likely to be a central midfielder who can also operate at centre-half. The former England manager is eager to add more athleticism to his squad after seeing his new team fail to win any of his first five Premier League games in charge.

Palace dropped into the bottom three on Saturday after losing 1-0 at home to Everton, their 12th loss in 15 league games.

They also still hope to secure Carl Jenkinson from Arsenal for around £7m at some stage, but are yet to agree personal terms for the one-time England international, and would move for the Hull forward Robert Snodgrass if further money can be raised with an outgoing transfer. Interest has been expressed in Yohan Cabaye by Marseille and Newcastle have indicated a willingness to take Andros Townsend back to Tyneside, initially on loan with a view to a £10m summer transfer.

West Ham also covet Snodgrass and are expected to lodge an improved bid of £10m. The Brentford striker Scott Hogan remains a target for Slaven Bilic’s side, with the 24-year-old likely to cost closer to £15m.

Sunderland would have to enter the market to sign a replacement for Van Aanholt, but are braced to miss out on Brady, who is expected to move to Burnley before next Tuesday’s deadline. Sunderland are, however, expected to sign Joleon Lescott on a free transfer. The defender is currently without a club.