Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes Celtic fans will be happy to see the back of goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas if he departs the club during the summer transfer window.
The Bhoys parted with £4.5m to sign the shot-stopper from AEK Athens in July 2020, but the deal just hasn’t worked out for either the Scottish outfit or Barkas himself.
He made just 15 Scottish Premiership appearances last season, and has only been seen once in the league this time around. Now, according to Greek outlet FOS Online, the 27-year-old has asked to leave Parkhead as he looks to resurrect his career.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke expects the club’s supporters to be happy if Barkas does move on. He said: “I think that the fans will be more than happy to see him go.
“He’s been a real big disappointment since his big-money arrival from Greece.”
TIF Thoughts on Barkas’ future…
A sum of £4.5m is not to be sniffed at in Scotland. That makes the Greece international the most expensive goalkeeper in the club’s history, while Transfermarkt states only 13 players have cost Celtic more.
At times, the criticism of Barkas has been scathing. Club legend Frank McAvennie called him “awful”, while Chris Sutton said the goalkeeping position remained a “nightmare” even after the big-money signing. Both of those pundits are prone to the odd exaggeration, but blunders such as the one against Midtjylland in the second round of Champions League qualifying last summer have proven costly.
Would you be happy to see Barkas depart?
Yes
No
With Joe Hart and Scott Bain ahead of him in Ange Postecoglou’s pecking order, Barkas’ path to first-team football in Glasgow looks long and winding at best. A transfer in the summer is surely advantageous for all involved, although given his performances, Celtic are unlikely to recoup what they initially paid.