Celtic are keen on the £2 million-rated IF Elfsborg goalkeeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson with the Iceland international’s former team-mate paying tribute to his ‘incredible’ form.
Having losing his place at Elfsborg and forced to grab a fresh start at Halmstads BK, lesser men would feel a pang of bitterness towards Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson.
But not Tim Ronning.
The former Elfsborg number one, having sealed a move to Allsvenskan rivals HBK last week, could hardly have been more complimentary towards the man who snatched his place between the sticks, Valdimarsson’s superb displays earning him the admiration of Celtic amongst others.
Celtic like Elfsborg goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson
“It is clear that it was a new seat for me. But I accepted my role, trained well and pushed Hakon. He has done fantastically well in Elfsborg. He has done incredibly well,” a mature, gratious Ronning tells Fotbolskanalen.
He’s a super guy, so it wasn’t weird (that he took my place). We pushed and helped each other in training. There is only one (position for a goalkeeper), but you have to take it the right way.
“You can’t break down and blame him and others for not being allowed to play. It is up to you whether you want to play. It’s about performing, and he’s done that.
“So there’s been no weirdness.”
According to the Goteborgs Posten, Celtic are showing an interest in Valdimarsson. They have apparently not been put off by the struggles of another Elsfborg export in Gustaf Lagerbielke. The Hoops could have soon find themselves speeding into pole position too. Belgian duo Anderlecht and Gent spinning their wheels over the 22-year-old’s reported £2 million price-tag.
Joe Hart’s replacement?
Valdimarsson, capped three times by Iceland, won the 2023 Allsvenskan Goalkeeper of the Year award. He is the second talented young shot-stopper to be linked with a move to Scotland as a potential replacement for the out-of-contract Joe Hart. And he may be a little easier to lure to Glasgow than Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin.
It remains to be seen whether Celtic plan to move for Valdimarsson now, or when Hart’s deal officially expires in the summer. HITC Football understands that Brendan Rodgers’ side are closing in on a £3 million deal for Rapid Vienna winger Nicolas Kuhn.
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