Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas has been linked with a move away from Parkhead this summer.

According to reports from Greece, cited by the Daily Record, AEK Athens are interested in the 26-year-old’s services.

The report suggests that AEK ‘will have to negotiate a loan deal with Celtic’ – nine words which appear key in any potential move.

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Barkas, on £13,500-a-week at Parkhead, has made 20 appearances since arriving from AEK last summer in a deal worth £4.5m, keeping nine clean sheets.

Neil Lennon described Barkas as ‘excellent’ in his first few months as a Hoops player, however, he’s fallen out of favour since the turn of the year, starting just two of Celtic’s 15 Premiership games in 2021.

Transfer Tavern take

It seems as if a loan deal is the only possibility this summer. That could be due to the finances involved in a permanent deal, or it could be due to Celtic’s stance on the shot-stopper.

The Hoops may feel that a loan move could be best for Barkas with a view of reclaiming his place in the Hoops side in the future once he has a spell away from the spotlight to regain his confidence.

It’ll be interesting to see what Celtic do with Barkas and Scott Bain this summer, though, as Conor Hazard recently signed a new deal also.

One may have to make way ahead of the 2021/22 season, and it seems as if Barkas’ former side would happily take the Greece international back on a temporary basis.

In other news: Strange Ryan Christie contract update emerges, find out more here