AEK Athens are set to increase their efforts to secure the return of Vasilis Barkas, just a year after selling the goalkeeper to Celtic, according to the Daily Record.
Barkas is constantly edging closer to the Parkhead exit door after a disappointing start to Ange Postecoglou’s time in charge. The Australian offered the Greek a second bite of the cherry in Glasgow, but he has been unable to clutch the opportunity with both hands.
Joe Hart has also overtaken Barkas in Postecoglou’s pecking order, with Celtic’s £4.5m signing now the third-choice, at best. AEK Athens hope they can capitalise on the situation by facilitating his return to the Main Olympic Stadium this summer.
Barkas spent four seasons at AEK Athens before joining Celtic and signing a £19,000-per-week, four-year contract last July. He also made his international debut in 2018 while on the books at Enosis, but is yet to be called up in 2021 after an inadequate start in Glasgow.
Barkas disappointed last season as he proved to be a blunder-ridden option between the sticks. Even when he enjoyed predominantly quiet afternoons, the Greek was culpable of mistakes. As supporters saw against Rangers in January, when he backed out of a save.
Postecoglou learnt how Neil Lennon must have felt the hard way in the Champions League against Midtjylland last month, too. Barkas again appeared to pull out of a potential save, only for Evander’s free-kick to bounce in off the post.
Celtic are now prepared to let Barkas leave this summer amid AEK Athens’ interest, even if it is on loan. The shot-stopper also appears willing to leave Parkhead, with Sportime noting the 13-cap international has spoken with his agent amid interest emerging from Italy.
Celtic should let Barkas leave amid AEK Athens interest
AEK Athens may prove to be Celtic’s best hope of offloading Barkas this summer, even if it’s only on loan. The Greek knows the club inside-out after 111 appearances. Enosis also fell to fourth in the Super League table last season, after a third-placed campaign in 2019/20.
The Main Olympic Stadium side also boasted a considerably inferior goal difference last term at plus-eight to plus-27 in 19/20. AEK Athens conceded 13 times more in 2020/21, and would hope Barkas can help revive their fortunes if Celtic part.
Which Postecoglou is, seemingly, not against with Hart and Scott Bain ahead of Barkas in his pecking order. And given Barkas’ wage, Hoops chiefs will surely like to see him leave.
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