Vasilis Barkas could be headed back to Greece, with PAOK 'weighing up' a loan move for the Celtic goalkeeper.

That's according to the Daily Record, who report that the Glasgow giants are hoping to arrange his temporary departure this summer.

PAOK are apparently the first club to make a 'firm enquiry' about Barkas, although there is also reported interest from clubs in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Tough few months for Celtic goalie Barkas

Barkas arrived at Celtic from AEK Athens for a fee of £4.5m last summer. He has made 20 appearances for the Hoops this season, keeping nine clean sheets, and former manager Neil Lennon hailed some of his performances at Parkhead as "excellent".

However, he has now very much fallen out of favour. His last Premiership start came in the 2-2 draw with Livingston on 20 January, with Scott Bain since establishing himself as number one.

Barkas also lost his place in the Greece squad for the March internationals, to compound his recent woes.

At the weekend, Native publication Sportime reported that he wasn't keen on such a swift return to the Greek Super League. However, the 26-year-old's stance may change if Celtic make it clear that he's not in the first team picture and PAOK prove to be one of the few clubs who can offer him consistent game-time.

Transfer Tavern verdict

In actual fact, the outlook may not be quite so bleak for Barkas. Eddie Howe's former club Bournemouth were apparently eyeing him before he joined Celtic, so he might just fit the 43-year-old's bill if he is confirmed as Lennon's long-term successor in the Hoops dugout.

Howe is now in line to take over at Parkhead, and may give the Greek goalkeeper an opportunity to impress in pre-season rather than simply showing him the door.

In other news, there's an update in Celtic's pursuit of a teenage forward.