Everton close to deal for goalkeeper Stekelenburg09:15, 1 JUL 2016 UPDATED 09:16, 1 JUL 2016
BY NEIL JONES
Koeman closing in on first Everton signing
Ronald Koeman is closing in on the first signing of his reign as Everton manager, with Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg on the brink of a move to Goodison. The 33-year-old Dutchman is expected to complete a switch to Merseyside over the weekend, with the Blues paying an undisclosed fee – believed to be under £1m.Stekelenburg worked under Koeman during a loan spell at Southampton last season, making 25 appearances on the South Coast. He has 54 caps for Holland, and was their first choice at both the 2010 World Cup, in which Bert Van Marwijk’s side reached the final in South Africa, and at the 2012 European Championships.
Born in Haarlem, Stekelenburg started his career at Ajax, making more than 200 appearances before moving to Roma in 2011. He joined Fulham in 2013 but made just 21 appearances as the Cottagers were relegated from the Premier League in his first season.
The following season he was loaned to Monaco, before being signed by Koeman for the 2015/16 campaign, where he would deputise for Saints’ No.1 Fraser Forster.
Koeman had told the ECHO how adding a goalkeeper to his ranks was essential following the departure of Tim Howard. Joel Robles is, at present, the only senior ‘keeper at the club, though Stekelenburg, assuming there are no last-minute hitches, could be in place when the first team squad reports for pre-season training at Finch Farm on Monday.
Everton remain keen to add another goalkeeper to take over as first choice this summer. Forster, Ajax’s Jasper Cillessen and Tim Krul of Newcastle are among the names being considered.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-close-deal-goalkeeper-stekelenburg-11551447 [ 此帖被羅力亞在2016-07-02 01:26重新編輯 ]
