Celtic have “concrete interest” in signing RKC Waalwijk goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen, according to Brabants Dagblad.
The Dutch newspaper claims that the Hoops are eyeing the 28-year-old as a potential replacement for current No.1 Joe Hart.
Vaessen’s contract at RKC expires at the end of the season so he will be available on a free transfer, making him a cost-effective solution to fill the position between the posts.
Since moving from WSC in the summer of 2015, Vaessen has racked up an impressive 202 appearances for RKC, keeping 42 clean sheets.
Just over half of those games have come in the Dutch Eredivisie, with the rest coming in the second tier.
Celtic will have rivals for Vaessen’s signature
Brabants Daglbad report that the keeper is also being targeted by Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, who are looking to give Walter Benitez more competition for his place.
Vaessen would probably have to choose between moving abroad and being a regular starter or staying in the Netherlands and sitting on the bench.
Hart will leave a big hole when he leaves Parkhead
While many supporters agree it is the right time for Celtic’s current first-choice keeper to hang up his gloves, he is a massively experienced player who has a great deal of influence in the dressing room. Speaking about the former England international last month, manager Brendan Rodgers said:
“Joe doesn’t have a lot to do but the times he does he makes wonderful saves. He’s a real catalyst for the team with the way him and Cal lead the dressing room. The saves he makes are so impressive. There were lots of crosses, lots of balls into the box.”
If Vaessen does make the move to Celtic Park, it remains to be seen whether he will have the same sort of personality and presence both on and off the pitch.
