PSV watcher sees new player for the first team: “That vacancy will be filled automatically.”

No one will have missed that goalkeeper Niek Schiks has been loaned by PSV to fellow provincial side RKC Waalwijk. Last season, Schiks was the third goalkeeper behind Matej Kovar and Nick Olij, but he did manage to keep two full Eredivisie matches by filling in for injuries to his teammates.

Now the goalkeeper has therefore been rented out to the Waalwijkers, there is a chance that Tijn Smolenaars will take over the spot of third goalkeeper for the 2026/2027 season. PSV watcher Tim Reedijk of Voetbal International expects this.

''Consider Tijn Smolenaars as the new Niek Schiks (22), who has been loaned out to RKC Waalwijk'', writes Reedijk in VI.

''Schiks was last season the third goalkeeper behind Matej Kovár and Nick Olij and even played two full Eredivisie matches, thanks to injuries to his competitors. This summer, Schiks extended his contract until mid-2028 and signed a loan deal in Waalwijk'', the journalist continues.

As a result, it is expected that Smolenaars will take over the place of the rented Schiks. ''That means that his vacancy in PSV's first team became available and, as if by itself, it will be filled by Smolenaars. That kept fewer matches in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie than Schiks did: fourteen games. The goalkeeper from Budel comes from a PSV family and of course hopes for next season the scenario that Schiks experienced: debuting with the main team one way or the other,'' said Reedijk.