Why Dani van den Heuvel will be a good fit at Leeds United
According to Ajax Showtime (h/t Leeds Live), Leeds United are closing in on the signing of Dutch goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel.
The 17-year-old shot-stopper left Dutch giants Ajax recently after turning down the opportunity to extend his stay with the Eredivisie side, who had offered him a new contract.
Van den Heuvel, who joined Ajax in 2017, spent three seasons with them and was a part of their youth setup. He featured 10 times for their under-17 squad this season, gaining some experience before deciding to exit the club this summer.
The young goalkeeper has also been a part of the youth teams of his national side Netherlands and currently plays for their under-17 side.
Van den Heuvel a good future investment by Leeds
Leeds, meanwhile, have enjoyed a successful season under manager Marcelo Bielsa, emerging as Championship winners and securing top-flight promotion after a gap of 16 years. With the side set to mark their return to the Premier League after a long duration, they have already made plans to bolster their squad by bringing French goalkeeper Illan Meslier on board.
The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Elland Road from French side FC Lorient and played back-up for first-choice goalkeeper Kiko Casilla. Casilla’s absence saw Meslier impressing between the sticks for Leeds during the second half of the season, thereby, forcing the club hierarchy to land him permanently.
There also remains the uncertainty surrounding the future of Casilla, who lost his spot in the first-team since receiving a ban in February.
Apart from Meslier and Casilla, Leeds also have 18-year-old Elia Caprile, who joined the side as a winter signing from Italian side Chievo Verona. With the side already having as many as three goalkeepers in their midst, first-team opportunities will be very limited for teenage keeper Van den Heuvel.
However, he is expected to join their under-23 squad and gain some experience before making his senior appearance. Hence, roping in a rising talent like Van den Heuvel will assure them of a secure future, especially if they wish to stay in the top-flight for a longer run.
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Verdict
Leeds have enough depth in their goal-keeping department and hence, Van den Heuvel’s arrival will only be useful in the future. Moreover, he is still in his teens and can develop his game under the guidance of a coach like Bielsa.
