Celtic Transfer Target Joël van den Berg: £3.4m PSV Wonderkid Wants Glasgow Move
Dutch reports claim Celtic are ready to pay around £3.4million for the highly-rated 19-year-old PSV midfielder – and the player is keen on Glasgow.
Phillip Cooney 
Celtic transfer target Joël van den Berg appears to be moving increasingly closer to a switch to Glasgow as the club finally accelerate their late-window business.
Fresh reports from the Netherlands claim Celtic are prepared to pay around €4million, approximately £3.4million, for the highly-rated PSV midfielder.
Crucially, the 19-year-old is reportedly keen on the move.
Van den Berg was also left out of Jong PSV’s match against RKC Waalwijk on Friday as discussions over his future intensified.
Celtic transfer target Joël van den Berg offers something different
This is certainly an interesting profile.
PSV describe Van den Berg as a number eight whose main qualities include physicality, defending, game intelligence and passing.
The midfielder describes himself as box-to-box, strong in duels and capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch.
Last season brought seven goals and four assists at PSV’s development level, while he also broke into the Dutch champions’ senior side.
Van den Berg has started the current campaign impressively too, scoring twice in his opening three league appearances for Jong PSV.
Those numbers immediately make him worth watching.
He is not simply a lightweight technical midfielder. There appears to be physical presence, defensive awareness and genuine attacking output in his game.
Celtic transfer target Joël van den Berg cannot be the only answer
There is plenty to like about this potential deal.
Celtic would be buying a 19-year-old from one of Europe’s strongest development systems, with first-team experience already behind him and enormous room for improvement.
However, perspective is required.
After losing Arne Engels and watching the midfield brutally exposed during the Champions League collapse against LASK, Celtic also require established quality.
Van den Berg could become an outstanding signing. He should not be expected to walk into Glasgow as the finished article and immediately solve every midfield problem.
For around £3.4million, though, this looks like exactly the kind of calculated recruitment Celtic should be exploring.
Get the youngster in, but keep going.
Martin O’Neill needs considerably more ammunition before this window closes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Celtic are reportedly closing in on PSV midfielder Joël van den Berg.
- Dutch reports suggest Celtic are willing to pay around €4million.
- The 19-year-old reportedly wants the move to Glasgow.
- PSV list physicality, defending, game intelligence and passing among his strengths.
- Van den Berg produced seven goals and four assists last season.
- This looks an exciting deal, but Celtic still need more proven first-team quality.
If he’s such a wonder kid , why is PSV letting him go so cheaply, I like reading everything people say about what’s wrong with the club , particularly upstairs in the boardroom, but everyone from yourself , James Forrest , Joe McHugh , & particularly Willie Haughey , & many others , all we do is blow off steam, nobody is in a position to do anything about it, I’m not aiming a dig at anyone, just so frustrated that DD & co have got themselves in such a strong position, they can never be removed , whisper this , it may take the noisy neighbours across the city to win the title, to possibly see some real change , even then that may not be enough. PS our club is a toy for DD to brag about on the golf course to people like Rory & Scottie , never been more disappointed.
He’s playing for their 2nd team ffs. Played 3 games for the 1st team in his whole career. Hardly a wunderkind! Celtic don’t have a 19 year old or close that can be bled into the team and given a platform to perform and develop?? Haven’t they noticed what Scottish-born midfielders have been going for in transfers these days?? Bring the youth through, only buy 1st team quality or continue to make the same mistakes…
Celtic had young Sean McCardle playing in pre season friendly’s was at the games thought he did well has also bulked up since he last played against Aberdeen and is tall why not give him a chance.