The Athletic are reporting that Brentford have won the race to sign Elfsborg young goalkeeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson. The 22-year-old Icelandic international had been of interest to both Gent and Anderlecht this winter. While Gent when in another direction by signing former Sint-Truiden goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt, Anderlecht remained interest with Kasper Schmeichel now 37-years-old.
In 29 league games for Elfsborg this season, Valdimarsson kept 13 clean sheets. The side narrowly missed out on winning the Allsvenskan title to Malmo, with both sides finishing level on points with 64. Malmo won out with a goal difference of 35 to Elsborg’s 33. However, Valdimarsson’s defence was the best in the league, conceding just 26 goals in 30 games.
Anderlecht may well need to find a new goalkeeping target. Maxime Dupé is reportedly in talks with Nice about a return to Ligue 1, despite only joining the Belgian side in the summer. He was signed as the club’s number one, but was usurped by Schmeichel during the season.
