Ange Postecoglou has indicated that with six days left of the January transfer window there may still be movement ahead.
Celtic have already brought in five new signings in this window, and with Ange stating the club will ‘stay alert’ to the possibilities emerging in the coming days, he has also indicated some players may be heading out the door. Indeed, it would be exits rather than incoming transfers that are likely to be more prevalent in the next few days, as Celtic look to get younger players some playing time with short term loans, but also look to get some more established squad players currently well down the pecking order out the door.
“We will stay alert and agile, there still could be some things that happen. We’re still looking at loans for a couple of our younger players. I’m sure there’ll still be some activity between now and the end – what sort of activity that is, we’ll just see how it all develops.”
One such player who looked be heading out is Vasilis Barkas. The Daily Mail reported interest from Sheffield United and an unnamed Swedish club, however it appears Barkas’ wage and Celtic’s insistence on a loan fee for the goalkeeper, alongside an option to buy may be dissuading potential suitors, as Liam Kelly has reported on The Celtic Star earlier today.
It is reported Celtic wish to have the Barkas wages covered entirely, and are looking at the option to buy being set at £2.5m. Given the performances at Celtic have been far from spectacular and the confidence of the player seems somewhat dented as a result, it seems Celtic are aiming high on this one. That said the reported £20,000 wages may be estimated on the high side with previous reports suggesting Barkas weekly wage to be less than half the amount reported.
Celtic have a history of taking deals to the wire as we saw in the summer with Kris Ajer, Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie. However, the advantage Celtic had with those deals, was despite the contracts running down and the window closing fast, all three were established players and all three had a track record of a run of good performances to show their worth. With Barkas it will take a bit for of a leap of faith.
That said Barkas came with a good reputation as a goalkeeper with AEK Athens and it may well be a player, who simply hasn’t settled on or off the park, will regain previous form with a change of scenery. As such Celtic will be keen to hold out for as much as they can when it comes to a loan fee and an option to buy transfer fee, as they look to recoup at least half of the £4.5m they spent on the ‘keeper 18 months ago.
If Ange Postecoglou does indeed to ‘stay alert’ with a view to possible incomings in the last six days of the transfer window, it would certainly help to have some expensive recruitment errors the manager inherited moved on sooner rather than later. As such a loan to buy move for Vasilis Barkas makes sense, with a similar message no doubt making its way to the representatives of Boli Bolingoli, Ismaila Soro and Albian Ajeti ahead of the transfer window closing.
Niall J
🇧🇪 | Boli Bolingoli
Celtic are looking to move out Boli Bolingoli from the club this month with the left-back surplus to requirements.
The 26 year old is better known for his off the field antics rather than what he's done on the pitch & has made just 2 appearances this season. pic.twitter.com/117TkxbkwM
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) January 25, 2022
Fast approaching an excellent transfer window. Outgoings for me are just as important, allows the manager to reinforce he won’t fuck about if you aren’t cutting it.
By any means necessary we should be getting Barkas, Bolingoli, Ajeti and Soro out the door.
— C (@CaIMcI) January 20, 2022
