Thread: Young Dutch Striker to go on trial

Celtic to take Dutch striker on trial

NAC Breda youngster Alex Schalk, who Celtic watched in action for the Dutch side's youth team in May, is on the verge of heading to Glasgow for a week long trial.

Celtic to take Dutch striker on trial

Alex Schalk could be on his way to Lennoxtown after Celtic reportedly made an approach to take the striker on trial. Pic: ©theplayerspool.com

NAC Breda prospect Alex Schalk will travel to Glasgow on Tuesday for a trial with Celtic, if his current club give the go-ahead. The 17-year-old striker is without a contract at the Dutch club, paving the way for Neil Lennon to pick the player up for a modest fee under Fifa’s training compensation regulations.

Reports in Holland say Celtic want Schalk to spend the week at Lennoxtown, with a view to signing him for a fee of £46,000. NAC would be due 11,000 Euros, or £9,000, for each year of his development from his 12th birthday onwards.

If NAC allow Schalk to travel to Scotland on trial, it is claimed he will travel to Glasgow on Tuesday to immediately begin training with the club’s reserve side, with Lennon taking a look at him after Celtic’s Champions League trip to face Braga.

As STV Sport reported in May, Celtic scouts watched Schalk in action at youth level for NAC. The striker, who is equally adept with both feet, finished the season as the second top scorer in the Dutch A1 youth league but, despite his form, is yet to appear in the first team.

NAC have been unsuccessful in their attempts to convince Schalk to sign a professional contract, paving the way for him to move to another club. Any transfer would represent a loss in investment for the Dutch side, having had the player on their books since he was 10 years old.

NAC, who finished 10th in this season’s Eredivisie, lost another of their youth products this summer having also allowed his contract to lapse. 20-year-old midfielder Enric Valles moved Birmingham City under freedom of contract, pending an award of training compensation.

http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottis...iker-on-trial/