Celtic fans are often faced with this question. Does it ever get boring winning the league pretty much every single season?
Well, the jubilant celebrations that followed confirmation of yet another Scottish Premiership title last midweek – Brendan Rodgers’ team winning it in style with a 5-0 hammering of Kilmarnock – should answer that tired-old poser pretty emphatically.
After being ran very close by arch rivals Rangers, a genuine title race this season rather than the perennial one-horse cruise, those Celtic smiles was rooted as much in relief as in joy, retiring goalkeeper Joe Hart at front and centre.
Hart, playing his final club game in the Scottish Cup final clash with Celtic’s Old Firm neighbours, was visibly emotional as a giant tifo was unveiled in his honour by the green-and-white support.
Celtic need a goalkeeper to replace Joe Hart
His potential Parkhead replacement is expecting a few tears of his own as he too bids farewell, a fresh start on the horizon after almost a decade at RKC Waalwijk.
RKC lost 3-1 at Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven over the weekend. But, after relegation rivals Excelsior also suffered defeat at the hands of Feyenoord, Vaessen ensured that he will leave his beloved club with their top-flight status safe for at least another year.
“When I’m on holiday, there will be some tears,” Vaessen says, signing off in style with his contract expiring in July.
“It was one of the toughest seasons of my career, especially mentally. I am so happy with this end result. Afterwards, things went crazy on the field and in the locker room,” the long-serving stopper adds, via Omroep Brabant.
“I am happy that I chose to stay for another year last summer. RKC will remain in the Eredivisie. That is what we all did it for. And with a new squad and many young boys.
“Now, the search starts for a new club, but I’m not working on that yet.”
A leader, a fans’ favourite and a warrior to boot – he now dons Petr Cech-style headgear after being knocked unconscious against Ajax earlier in the campaign – 28-year-old Vaessen is one of a number of goalkeepers under consideration to inherit Hart’s gloves.
Brendan Rodgers’ side eyeing numerous goalkeepers
HITC understands that Celtic had installed Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher as their number one target at the start of 2024. With Kelleher on the expensive side however – previously valued at around £15 million – the Glasgow giants are also keeping tabs on Trabzonspor captain Ugurcan Cakir, while links to Aston Villa youngster Viljami Sinisalo have also emerged of late.
“Ugurcan is our brother. He is a very good Trabzonspor player. A real Trabzonspor player,” Trabzonspor president Ertogrul Dogan tells A Spor, his side are reportedly closing in on Rangers duo Borna Barisic and John Lundstram. “Regardless of his situation, he thinks of nothing but the interests of his team.
“Of course, the player has the idea of playing in Europe. We said that, if an important offer comes, we will let him go.
“Although there is no official offer at the moment, it is true that some clubs have contacted us. Ugurcan has such a dream in his mind and we welcome it. It would be better to talk after an official offer comes.”