Celtic transfer news: Sporting director says he will not sign on-loan Hoops star

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FC Utrecht’s sporting director Jordy Zuidam has stated that the club are not in the financial position to sign Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.

Speaking to the Daily Record, the Eredivisie official revealed that the Dutch side don’t have the capacity to sign Barkas permanently despite being one of the best goalkeepers in the division this season, with the Greek international keeping seven clean sheets in 21 appearances for Utrecht.

Zuidam said about signing Barkas: “We have to talk about realistic purchase options. A club like FC Utrecht, which cannot afford huge transfer amounts, has to be creative. By loaning players first, we buy time. Vasilis Barkas will return to Celtic and he is too expensive for FC Utrecht.”

Widely regarded as one of the worst Celtic transfers in recent years, Barkas has been firmly replaced by Joe Hart at Celtic since the arrival of Ange Postecoglou, with the 28-year-old expected to be sold for good in the summer even with Utrecht ruling out a move for the goalkeeper this year.

With 18 months left on his Celtic contract, the Hoops could find themselves in a strong position to sell Barkas when the goalkeeper returns from Utrecht, with interest in signing the Greek international likely to be high based on the shot-stopper’s performances out in Holland this season.

Indeed, whilst Utrecht have no intention on signing Barkas, the keeper’s stock has risen to such an extent that the 28-year-old returning to Celtic could actually be a benefit for the Hoops, who can now name their price for the Dutch-born player.

Utrecht not signing Barkas could be massive for Celtic

The transfer boom of the Scottish Premiership has been massive for the likes of Celtic, and with Utrecht now stating their intention to not sign Barkas in the summer, the keeper will soon return to Glasgow with his valuation as high as it has ever been since joining the SPL titans.

Whilst Celtic might still struggle to break even for Barkas, many top sides could be willing to meet the Hoops new demands for the Greek international given the shot-stopper’s current contract situation with the Scottish side and his impressive year with Utrecht, factors which could all culminate into a move at the end of the season.