Hearts target next summer transfer as 'Giant' in talks over Tynecastle move
Hearts are in talks over their latest summer transfer ahead of the competitive season kicking off.
Hearts are in talks over the permanent signing of towering goalkeeper Beau Reus.
The shot stopper who stands at 6 ft 6 in came through the youth ranks of Dutch club AZ Alkmaar before joining Belgian side Beveren in 2022. He has made 126 appearances for the Freethiel Stadion team who won Belgium’s second tier last season but is now out of contract. Reports in Holland suggest German side Werder Bremen and La Liga’s Malaga were two interested suitors but talks to bring Reus to the Premiership side are ongoing
Alexander Schwolow spent last term as number one while Zander Clark, Ryan Fulton, Harry Stone and Liam McFarlane are all contracted goalkeepers at Hearts currently. Wouter Vrancken - who has extensive managerial experience in his native Belgium - will submit his squad for the Champions League second round qualifier versus Sturm Graz this week.
Who is Beau Reus?
Back when he signed his most recent contract extension at Beveren, then-sporting director Tom Van den Abbeele talked up the Hearts target, who comes with a nickname based off his stature. He said: “Our goalkeeper's strong performances last season did not go unnoticed. SK Beveren is therefore very happy with Beau, on the one hand, and on the other hand, he enjoys being in Beveren himself. We quickly found common ground and are delighted to announce that we can count on our 'Giant' for the next three seasons as well to keep a clean sheet and lead his defence.”
Antoine Gobin, then CEO, said of the deal: “Beau came to us last year as a tester, wanting to prove himself as a good first team goalkeeper. He's done more than that: he proved himself to be the best in our division. Titles are won with stability, and extending Beau is one of our final important steps in maintaining the stability from our defensive line last year. We hope Beau's second season is even more successful than the first!”
A club statement at the time read: “SKB continues to work on the future. The club is particularly pleased to announce that a new agreement has been reached with goalkeeper Beau Reus (21) regarding an extended stay at the Freethiel. The Dutchman will be seen in the Beveren goal for the next three seasons. Beau Reus has had a fantastic season.
“The Dutchman appeared between the posts as early as the second matchday of last season, after fellow goalkeeper Brondeel injured himself on the opening day against Beerschot. The rest is history. The goalie performed more than excellently! The goalkeeper exuded calmness in goal and led his defense. Moreover, he recorded no fewer than eleven clean sheets and was consequently named the 'goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded' in the Challenger Pro League for the 2022-2023 season.”