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.
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.
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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.
