PSV Eindhoven should target Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken this summer, if Walter Benitez departs as expected.
That’s according to Ronald Waterrus in his column for De Limburger, relayed by Football Transfers, who believes the Brentford goalkeeper is the idea replacement.
Benitez is currently in the final months of his contract with PSV and is yet to sign an extension to keep him at the Dutch club. All indications are that he will leave on a free transfer and bring an end to a three year stay at the club.
That will leave PSV looking for a new number one goalkeeper and Waterrus believes that the focus needs to be one someone who can ‘actually score points’.
He puts focus on the performances of Yann Sommer for Inter in the Champions Leaue this season, with the veteran goalkeeper proving to be decisive in their run to the final.
Sommer was in particularly good form in the semi-final win over Barcelona, with several impressive saves, particularly to deny Lamine Yamal, meaning he earned a section of his own headlines despite that game proving to be a classic for the ages.
Flekken is the idea man for the job as far as Waterrus is concerned and, he believes they can tempt him away from Brentford too.
“If I were Earnest Stewart, I would dare to take on Sparta’s Nick Olij, especially if an experienced man were brought in as second goalkeeper behind him,” he said.
“Or with Bernd Leno from Fulham, who was once briefly goalkeeper for Die Mannschaft. I know that PSV wanted to bring him to Eindhoven before.
“But Benítez’s successor is someone we have all known here for a long time. Indeed, Mark Flekken. (He) is experienced, radiates calm and is not easily discouraged after adventures in the Bundesliga and Premier League. Financially unfeasible, I hear you think. Or: Why would you trade Brentford for the number two in the Netherlands?
“But I believe in it. Not only because he can then live in the beautiful Bocholtz (South Limburg) again, but also because he normally plays in the Champions League and for the national championship in Eindhoven every year. Flekken – only 31 years old – could easily be ‘the Sommer of PSV’ for five years.”
