Celtic’s £4.5m ace suggests he wants to leave but club can’t afford him

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Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas has indicated that he would love to stay in the Eredivisie following an impressive loan spell at FC Utrecht. 

It’s unlikely that Ange Postecoglou will be rushing to stand in his way either. 

Vasilis Barkas, who joined Celtic from AEK Athens for an eye-watering £4.5 million, fell behind Joe Hart in the pecking order after Postecoglou replaced Neil Lennon in the Parkhead hotseat nearly two years ago. 

The Greek international is also one of a number of ‘forgotten men’ who will be allowed to leave for the right offer. Ismaila Soro, James McCarthy, Liam Scales and Albian Ajeti may also be available. 

Will Vasilis Barkas leave Celtic this summer?

The only problem is, Utrecht will struggle to stump up the sort of fee Celtic want for Barkas, even if the 28-year-old’s market value has fallen substantially since his relatively big-money move to Glasgow. 

As Barkas himself admits, his future is currently out of his hands.

“It is always open, but it is not in my hands. I feel good here. My family is happy,” Barkas tells Utrecht TV. “It would be an honour for me to play for FC Utrecht again.” 

Technical director Jordy Zuidam admitted, last week, that the chance of Barkas signing a permanent deal at the Stadion Galgenwaard were ‘minimal’.

“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,” Zuidam adds. 

“Vasilis Barkas will return to Celtic. He is too expensive for FC Utrecht.” 

Summer swap deal?

According to the Scottish Sun, there may still be a way for Barkas to stay in the Netherlands. Celtic are reportedly keen on Utrecht team-mate Anastosios Douvikas; the Eredivisie’s 16-goal top scorer. 

Could one Greek international move to Parkhead in exchange with another?

“I don’t want to think about (a transfer) at the moment,” Douvikas told RTV over the weekend. “I’ll only make a decision after the season. I really don’t know if I will leave Utrecht this summer, I mean that.”

“If there isn’t a club where I would like to go, I might stay. I don’t have a preference for a competition, but I would like to play in the Premier League one day.

“I don’t know if a club from England has already contacted my agent.”