Transfer Latest – Interest in Barkas increases as Utrecht want permanent deal

According to reliable Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos, FC Utrecht are very much keen on securing Celtic’s Vasilis Barkas on a permanent transfer. The Greek goalkeeper has been in the Eredivisie this season and has been performing very well, putting his disastrous spell at Celtic Park behind him, with some stand-out displays.

With 5 clean sheets in 14 matches, Barkas has also managed to grab a couple of Man of the Match displays along the way, prompting the eagerness of the Dutch club’s manager and board to snap him up on a permanent basis from the Hoops.

HeereNVEEN – FC Utrecht goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas during the Dutch Eredivisie match between sc Heerenveen and FC Utrecht at the Abe Lenstra Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Photo ANP Sport

In what would be a major coup for Celtic if they could get Barkas off the books, it seems that not only is his current employers desperate to get a deal done for the stopper, it would appear that other clubs are circling should any hiccups occur on their end.

Taking to Twitter, Chorianopoulos revealed:

“Vasilis Barkas has a really good season at FC Utrecht on loan from Celtic (14 matches/5 clean sheets). Utrecht will like to make the transfer permanent (summer 2023) but also other clubs are keep an eye on Greek GK”

Good news all round it seems. Barkas regaining confidence again and performing this well is a win-win for everyone. He just never looked right in that Celtic number one shirt if truth be told. But he has shown he is a decent ‘keeper obviously in Holland. Hopefully we can get a sizeable transfer fee for a player that wasn’t cheap for sure. £4.5 million will be stinging the money men at Parkhead and they will want to subsidise at least some of that initial outlay.

At the weekend the mainstream media were reporting that Utrecht couldn’t afford to purchase Barkas from Celtic but that is just one interpretation of what was actually being said. Another is that the Dutch club were beginning the process of talking down the asking price for the goalkeeper ahead of the summer move.

Celtic’s intention will be to get as high a price as possible so the news from Giannis Chorianopoulos that there are multiple clubs interested in the former AEK Athens goalkeeper is good news for the club, with the funds recovered likely to be added to the sum Ange Postecoglou will have at his disposal in the summer transfer window.

Paul Gillespie

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About Author

I'm a Garngad Bhoy through and through. My first ever Celtic game was a friendly against Italian side Parma at Celtic Park, in 2002. Currently a student of English Literature and Education at the University of Strathclyde for my sins. Favourite game would be a toss up between beating Manchester United with that Naka freekick, or the game against the Oldco when Hesselink scored in the dying seconds. I'm still convinced Cal Mac is wasted playing that far back.

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