Celtic were close to offloading goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas to Sheffield United – but the deal has fallen through at the last minute.
The Scottish Daily Mail (25/01, p79) report that the Blades showed ‘serious interest’ in signing Barkas last week.
However, the deal has collapsed because Celtic demanded a loan fee and most of Barkas’s £20,000-a-week wages paying.
Celtic also wanted a £2.5million permanent option and a sell-on clause, all of which Sheffield United just weren’t happy with, so they walked away.
Sheffield United actually battled Celtic for Barkas in 2020, but lost out to the Bhoys.
A Swedish club are believed to be interested in Barkas, but have also been priced out of a deal as Celtic make strong demands.
There is also no chance of Sheffield United rekindling their interest.
The Blades have since snapped up Stoke City goalkeeper Adam Davies, who worked with boss Paul Heckingbottom at Barnsley.
With Wes Foderingham also at Heckingbottom’s disposal, there is no room for another goalkeeper to arrive at Bramall Lane.
This is far from ideal for Celtic and may mean that Barkas ends the January window with the Bhoys rather than making a move away.
Celtic splashed £4.5million on Barkas in 2020 having been impressed with his displays with AEK Athens.
However, it quickly became clear that Barkas just wasn’t good enough. Only 18 months on from his arrival, Barkas is a forgotten man at Celtic.
Now behind Joe Hart and Scott Bain, Barkas has no future at Celtic and must leave if he wants first-team football.
It currently seems like Celtic’s demands are preventing Barkas from going, and those demands may need to come down in order to facilitate a transfer.
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