Paul John Dykes has featured on the latest episode of the A Celtic State of Mind podcast to talk about potential departures from Parkhead ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
The pundit claimed Celtic will look at goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas as a potential departure this summer with Dykes expecting the club to cut their losses on the 26-year-old and allow the new permanent manager to bring in a new first-choice goalkeeper.
Celtic signed Barkas for £4.5m from AEK Athens in the summer, but the Greek shot-stopper has only featured twice in the league for the Bhoys this year (via Transfermarkt).
Speaking about potential departures in the goalkeeping department alongside co-panellist Colin Watt, Dykes had this to say on the matter.
He said: “Colin, the club will look at that investment of £5m, and if they decide to bring in a new goalkeeper – and I think that will be on the shopping list – then I think part of that will be that they will try and recoup some of the fee for Barkas.
“I mean, his stock’s still going to be high in Greece. One poor season in Scotland, I don’t think, is going to affect his stock over in his homeland.
“We probably won’t get £5m back for him due to the fact that money’s tight in football all across the globe, but if you were able to get £2.5-3m – and I know that’s a big loss – but if you were able to get £2.5-3m for Barkas, invest in that in the new manager’s first choice, don’t you think that’d be a better move? “
Will Celtic allow Vasilis Barkas to leave?
Yes
No
Barkas has made just 13 appearances for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership this season and has conceded 10 goals in his time between the sticks in the league (via Transfermarkt).
TIF Thoughts on Dyke’s comments…
Dyke is clearly disappointed in Celtic’s £5m summer signing. Barkas will have been brought in for a decent fee in the hope he was going to become a solid first-choice goalkeeper for the Bhoys – having taken the No 1 jersey – however, that has not been the case at all.
Depending on who Celtic choose to become their new permanent manager, selling Barkas and reinvesting the transfer fee back into finding a new goalkeeper could be a real possibility.