Heerenveen captain Henk Veerman expects namesake Joey to leave during the summer transfer window, telling Omrop Fryslan that Rangers or Celtic may be the midfielder’s destination.
For Heerenveen supporters, life without the Veermans doesn’t bare thinking about.
The deadliest duo in the Eredivisie, to say Johnny Jansen’s side are little over-reliant on the talismanic captain and their dynamic, box-to-box midfielder would be one hell of an understatement.
Put simply, when Joey is carving open defences, serving up chances on a silver platter for Henk, Heerenveen are a danger to any team.
It is no coincidence that the Frisians failed to win any of the four games that Joey did not start in 2020/21.
Unfortunately, Henk and the rest of his Heerenveen teammates may have to get used to life without 22-year-old Veerman, with Voetbal International reporting that Scottish Premiership champions Rangers are battling Serie A giants Atalanta for his £11 million-rated signature.
“(If Joey leaves) things change enormously. That is a serious problem for me,” admitted a clearly anxious Henk Veerman, translated by Voetbal Primeur.
Joey set up four of Henk’s 14 Eredivisie goals last season too.
“I’ve read things about Atalanta Bergamo, Rangers, Celtic, PSV, Ajax and AZ. I expect him to go to one of those clubs.”
While Rangers have been linked to a midfielder who could add some real drive and dynamism to Steven Gerrard’s already well-stocked engine room, there has been nothing yet to suggest that Celtic are interested too.
Does Henk know something we don’t?
Either way, Celtic would certainly benefit from the addition of a midfielder who produced nine goals and ten assists in 2020/21, especially when you consider Ryan Christie’s uncertain future and Callum McGregor’s loss of form.
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