Content creator Chris Hamill, who has featured on Sky Sports, has had his say on the news that Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas has been shipped out on loan to FC Utrecht until the end of the season.
The goalkeeper was signed for £4.5m from AEK Athens in July 2020, but the deal has been a bust for Lennoxtown executives.
His £9k-per-week contract still has two years to run, but now with the Greek international sent to the Eredivisie outfit, perhaps that will clear some space on the wage bill for Ange Postecoglou to bring in some fresh faces.
The 28-year-old was seen as the Glasgow giants’ third-choice goalkeeper in the most recent campaign, having lost his place to new arrival Joe Hart last summer and replaced as deputy by Scott Bain – and it is fair to say that Hamill is glad to see the back of him.
Taking to Twitter, he said: “Vasilis Barkas made 16 saves in league play after signing for £4.5m from AEK Athens.
“That’s £281k per save EXCLUDING wages.
“Perhaps the worst Celtic signing of the modern era.”
Vasilis Barkas made 16 saves in league play after signing for £4.5m from AEK Athens…
That’s £281k per save EXCLUDING wages??
Perhaps the worst Celtic signing of the modern era ??? https://t.co/zXBg2ejxrg
— Hamill (@CPHamill) June 7, 2022
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TIF Thoughts on Barkas and Celtic…
These are certainly strong words from Hamill, but it is fair to say that his comments are warranted given how the big-money signing made just 15 Scottish Premiership appearances during his first campaign and was quickly dropped by Postecoglou in 2021/22, playing just twice in all competitions this season as Hart emerged as the Australian’s No 1.
He has been described as “awful” by club icon Frank McAvennie, and his howler against Midtjylland earlier in the campaign appeared to be the final straw, as his only appearance since came when neither Bain nor Hart were available as Celtic headed to St Johnstone with a virus-hit squad on Boxing Day.
The Bhoys are unlikely to recoup much of the record fee they paid for a goalkeeper just two years ago but at least now with one of their steadier earners off the books, this can be the start of a mini-clearout at Parkhead as the club prepare to defend their newly-regained Scottish Premiership title.