Hakon Valdimarsson, the £2 million-rated goalkeeper from IF Elfsborg who has been linked to a move to Scottish Premiership winners Celtic, isn’t exactly well-known in the green side of Glasgow, it’s probably safe to say.
However, things might be about to change. Since Joe Hart’s contract is about to expire and there isn’t a clear successor in Scott Bain or Benjamin Siegrist, Celtic is searching the goalkeeper market.
Goteborgs Posten reports that there is interest in the aforementioned Hakon Valdimarsson. And although while the 22-year-old had a stellar Allsvenskan season with Elfsborg and won Goalkeeper of the Year at the 2023 Swedish Football Awards, it’s his exploits abroad that should allay the concerns of those worried about another Gustav Lagerbielke scenario.
Celtic eye Icelandic ace Valdimarsson Hakon
After moving from Elfsborg to Celtic last summer, Lagerbielke has struggled to establish himself in Brendan Rodgers’ starting lineup. After just a few months in Scotland, there are already rumors that he may leave early.
Lagerbielke did not, however, come into the game having already proven himself against Cristiano Ronaldo; rather, Valdimarsson’s masterful performance in Iceland’s November European Championship qualifier against Portugal gave him the benefit of the doubt among a skeptical Celtic fanbase that had been burned by past transfer failures.
After just three minutes, Valdimarsson set himself up for success by coolly and composedly stopping a Joao Felix attempt that fizzed through a packed penalty area. A fantastic daisy-cutter from Bruno Fernandes had him completely covered, but Valdimarsson did manage to paw away a close-range volley from Ruben Dias.
It was Ronaldo’s turn to be turned down after that. The £2 million-rated, Celtic-linked shot-stopper ‘superbly’ clutching a powerful header from arguably world football’s greatest ever goalscorer.
Ronaldo was beaten by the goalkeeper.
At full time, the Icelandic publication DV commented, “Did really well from the start and showed a lot of courage.” Valdimarsson emerged with his reputation largely intact, though it’s possible that he could have done more to prevent Ricardo Horta’s second-half winner.
“Aside from that, he was outstanding.”
The player chosen to take Joe Hart’s gloves must be able to produce virtuoso, backs-against-the-wall performances against some of the best forwards on the planet if Celtic are to advance under Rodgers, especially in the Champions League.
And Valdimarsson has already shown that he is capable of doing it.
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