Celtic and Southampton recently missed out on signing Christopher Scott, a highly regarded Bayern Munich talent, for just £1.4 million.
Surprising’ is the word one commentator and former player used to describe his reaction to the reported Celtic target’s rather unexpected switch.
And you can understand why Jesper Christiansen has been taken aback somewhat
According to reports, there was interest not only from Celtic but from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Two teams capable of putting Champions League football on the table. There was also a Premier League option in the shape of newly-promoted Southampton.
It is, then, ‘surprising’ indeed that Brondby were able to convince one of The Hoops’ potential Joe Hart replacements to turn his nose up at offers from elsewhere and extend his stay in Denmark instead.
Celtic and Southampton miss out on Patrick Pentz
“It is surprising and positive, and it has been very well received by Brondby,” Christiansen, the one-time Copenhagen goalkeeper, tells Tipsbladet of Patrick Pentz. “He has proven to be such an important player for Brondby.
“He has done so well this season and he also seems to be a leader both on and off the pitch. So it’s good work (keeping him).”
Pentz, a 27-year-old Austria international, spent last season on loan at Brondby from German champions Bayer Leverkusen. He obviously feels he has unfinished business in Denmark, returning in a bargain £1.4 million deal after Brondby missed out on the Superligaen title by just one point to FC Midtjylland last term.
“He is insanely good at crosses, he has good timing and jumping power. And he is a very, very calm goalkeeper, also with his feet. So they get a lot out of him, also in the build-up game,” adds Christainsen, Pentz’s impressive passing range explaining the interest from Brendan Rodgers‘ Celtic and a possession-heavy Southampton side.
“It’s nice to see (Brondby) go out and spend that money and that they recognise he’s an important player to get in. They know him and they have seen what he can do.
“Having to go out and find a completely new goalkeeper, even though he may have had a good CV, would have led to questions about whether he would fit in and how long he would have to settle. But Pentz is integrated into the team, and he can go in and deliver from day one.”
Celtic still need a shot-stopper
That – ‘having to go out and find a completely new goalkeeper’ – is exactly the challenge facing Celtic. Hart bowed out with a league and cup double last season. But, three weeks after defeating Rangers at Hampden Park thanks to Adam Idah’s stoppage time heroics, the Scottish champions appear no closer to bringing in a new shot-stopper to take the Englishman’s place.
Celtic, HITC reported at the start of the year, are big fans of Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher. He may be a little on the expensive side, however. A cheaper option could be Trabzonspor captain Ugurcan Cakir, reportedly valued at around £8 million.
There have also been links with Etienne Vaessen, the long-serving Eredivisie ace who recently announced his intention to leave RKC Waalwijk when his contract expires this summer.
Werder Bremen’s Michael Zetterer has been mentioned too, alongside Aston Villa youngster Viljami Sinisalo.
Celtic may face a battle with Manchester City, however, for Zetterer.
