Reported Rangers target Joey Veerman will leave Heerenveen this summer as the Eredivisie outfit already has a ready-made replacement in its roster, former player Geert Arend Roorda has told Radio Camataru.
Dutch football veterans Lasse Schone and Siem de Jong may be plying their trade at the Abe Lenstra Stadium these days but there can be no disputing the identity of Heerenveen’s star performer this season.
22-year-old Veerman is the man who makes things tick in central midfield, setting the tone with his aggressive pressing while creating and taking chances at the other end of the park.
In total, the box-to-box midfielder has nine goals and 11 assists to his name.
Voetbal International reports Scottish champions Rangers are battling Italy’s Atalanta for Veerman’s signature, although the Dutch U21 international could set them back a club-record fee of £11 million (Voetbal International).
While it remains to be seen where Veerman is plying his trade in 2021/22, Roorda doesn’t expect to him to stay at Heerenveen.
And the former Frisian ace would rather see Veerman leave the Netherlands than join one of Heerenveen’s rivals.
“I think the chance Joey will leave is quite high and I also think it is good for him and the club,” Roorda explains.
“Lasse (Schone) could also play well in the role of Veerman, although he generally plays football in a slightly smaller space and keeps the ball a little more.
“I hope (Veerman) will go abroad. He is really a very nice footballer to watch.”
PSV Eindhoven have already confirmed they’re in no position to pay the sort of money Heerenveen want for one of the league’s most influential midfielders.
The likelihood Veerman will go ‘abroad’, then, appears high.
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