Celtic ‘chasing Rafael van der Vaart’ - reports

CELTIC are interested in signing Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart, according to German tabloid newspaper Bild.

Van der Vaart is out of contract with current club Hamburg in the summer. Picture: AFP/Getty

The 32-year old is out of contract with current club Hamburg in the summer and the Hoops are apparently interested in tempting the midfielder to Celtic Park.

With Kris Commons and Stefan Johansen both contracted to Celtic next season, an additional attacking playmaker isn’t high on the team’s priorities, though tempting a player of van der Vaart’s pedigree would be a major coup for Celtic on and off the park.

The Dutchman has enjoyed a long and prestigious career, scoring 167 club goals from midfield and starring for some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Ajax and Real Madrid.

A young van der Vaart played against Celtic in a 2001 Champions League qualifier. Picture: SNS

British football fans will be most familiar with the player from his two season spell at Tottenham between 2010 and 2012, where he netted 28 goals in 80 games, including the opening goal in Spurs’ 5-0 demolition of Hearts in 2011.

Van der Vaart began his career playing for Ajax and actually featured against Celtic in a Champions League qualifier back in 2001.

In 2010 he was a substitute in the Netherlands’ 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup Final. The player has totalled 109 caps for his country overall.