Celtic have been credited with a concrete interest in signing Etienne Vaessen.
The ‘keeper is out of contract with RKC Waalwijk in the summer with no sign yet that he will remain with the club that he signed his first contract with in 2015.
Joe Hart’s announcement that he will retire at the end of this season puts Celtic in the market for a new goalkeeper with Dutch publisher Brabants Dagblad putting two and two together.
At the age of 28 Vaessen has four years experience in Eredivisie, the level that Vasilis Barkas is currently playing at.
Dutch football is one of the most heavily scouted in Europe but it seems that while being steady and a regular first choice no club has been keen enough to put in an offer that Waalwijk couldn’t refuse.
With Hart leaving there is bound to be a lot of speculation linking Celtic with goalkeepers, after the Barkas deal the club are well aware of the pitfalls of bringing in someone from a completely different football environment.
Artur Boruc did make that transition almost 20 years ago but since then Fraser Forster, Craig Gordon and Hart have been experienced UK based keepers with Forster signing on permanently after two stints on loan.
CLICK HERE for Vaessen’s Transfermarkt profile.
Whilst Hart should have been replaced last summer,
it’s appreciated that he did announce his retirement early,
and which immediately removed any uncertainty:
we are definitely getting a new keeper this summer.
Let’s just hope it’s not another project player we get…?!
[Well, PL is STILL in the building. 🙁 ]
Aye and a freebie from a club you’ve barely heard of would have Lawwell’s strench all over it. FFS, Brendan, put your foot down and get that arsehole out of CP and bring in a recognised, quality ‘keeper.