Premier League high-flyers Fulham scouted Holland’s World Cup goalkeeper Andries Noppert during the Eredivisie clash between Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar last weekend, Superfriezen director Ferry de Haan tells Voetbal International.
Has there been a better pound-for-pound signing in England’s top flight this season than the one which saw Bernd Leno make the short trip from the Emirates to Craven Cottage for an initial £3 million?
The Germany international is a major reason why Fulham, halfway through the 2022/23 campaign, can already start planning for life in the top-flight next term too; 16 points separating Marco Silva’s side from West Ham in 18th.
Should Fulham firm up their interest in the 6ft 8ins Noppert, then, the late-blooming Dutchman would have to weigh up whether the lure of the Premier League is worth accepting a back-seat role for.
Noppert, valued at around £10 million by Heerenveen, is likely to be viewed as an experienced back-up for a Fulham side sitting sixth in the table. Leno, after all, will take some shifting.
Fulham are looking at Netherlands World Cup star Andries Noppert
“I get a list of the clubs and agents present before every match,” explains De Haan. “Fulham, for example, were (looking at Noppert) against AZ.”
Noppert, just three years ago, considered giving up on football in favour of a career in law enforcement. He’s got Eredivisie attackers under lock and key these days, however; belatedly establishing himself as a top-flight glovesman at the age of 28.
Noppert’s remarkable rise continued at the Qatar World Cup too. He featured in every one of the Netherlands’ games en route to the quarter-finals, earning the admiration of Dutch legend Edwin van der Sar and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, to name but two.
“Do I know him? I know him a little bit. He is a very good keeper,” Courtois said of the former NAC Breda and Foggia stopper.
Ajax showed an interest in Noppert on the other side of Christmas. Alfred Schreuder’s stuttering side brought in Geronimo Rulli from Villarreal instead, however.
“Actually, it is very simple. If I leave or not, it would be good in both cases. I am here at the club of my dreams. Heerenveen is very special to me,” Noppert said back in December (Voetbal Primeur).
“If the club can make money from me, then maybe now is a good time (to go). We just have to wait and see what happens.”
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