Celtic Manager Neil Lennon is closing in on two major new signings just a few days before the most important Premiership season ever gets underway when Hamilton visit Celtic Park on Sunday.
Celtic are looking to win their tenth consecutive title and the addition of both the Greece international goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas from AEK Athens and Swiss striker Albian Ajeti from West Ham are now just medicals away from going though.
Given what happened to David Turnbull at his medical last June, we can take nothing for granted, but assuming nothing untoward emerges both players will be Celtic players over the next few days and should be in the squad for the visit of Hamilton as Celtic begins the quest for Ten-in-a-Row.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph updated us last night on the developments with Ajeti – who had of course played alongside Moi Elyounoussi at FC Basel – see the tweet below for how effective they were together.
“Celtic are set to sign Albian Ajeti on a season-long loan from West Ham, after the clubs agreed a deal today (Tuesday). Sky Sports News understands the deal includes an option to buy, for a fee of around £5m. Ajeti is due to have his medical at Celtic on Wednesday.”
Celtic are set to sign Albian Ajeti on a season-long loan from West Ham, after the clubs agreed a deal today. @SkySportsNews understands the deal includes an option to buy, for a fee of around £5m.
Ajeti is due to have his medical at Celtic on Wednesday.
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) July 27, 2020
FT | FCB 5-1 @BSC_YB
Basel with an emphatic win against the new Swiss Champion from Bern. Goals by Ajeti (2x), Elyounoussi, Zuffi and Oberlin. #FCBYB #FCBasel1893 #zämmestark pic.twitter.com/RSB3vJpgsT
— FC Basel 1893 🇬🇧 (@FC_Basel_en) May 10, 2018
Some info from watching him in 🇨🇭 for the past 4-5 yrs:
First Basel app at 17. Scored ⚽️ at a poor St. Gallen before returning to FCB & becoming 1st choice.
Scored 14 & 17 (top scorer) before moving to WH. Would've been better suited to another yr in Basel.
Should score goals.
— 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘀 – Craig King (@FootballSwissEN) July 27, 2020
Ajeti played with Elyounoussi for only seven months before the latters move to Southampton.
Elyounoussi directly assisted him four times but they had 25 goals and 19 assists between them in those seven months.
— 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘀 – Craig King (@FootballSwissEN) July 27, 2020
Anthony Joseph also confirmed the story that The Celtic Star ran late yesterday afternoon that the deal has now been agreed to bring Vasilis Barkas to Celtic on a 4 year deal, subject to him travelling to Glasgow for a medical. That was being organised last night. Here’s what the Sky Sports man had to say about this deal.
“Celtic are also closing in on AEK Athens keeper Vasilis Barkas. Greek sources are reporting a deal of €5m (£4.5m), plus add-ons, has been agreed for the 26-year-old.”
Celtic are also closing in on AEK Athens keeper Vasilis Barkas.
Greek sources are reporting a deal of €5m (£4.5m), plus add-ons, has been agreed for the 26-year-old. https://t.co/L1vvgx6vgH
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) July 27, 2020
Multiple other sources are quoting the same information, with the Greek journalists, quoted on The Celtic Star yesterday afternoon breaking the Barkas story while Sky Sports appear to have had the exclusive on the Ajeti deal being agreed with West Ham.
€5millon Barkas Bid 'almost done', AEK Goalkeeper expected to sign 4 year contract with Celtic | The Celtic Star https://t.co/SjkZD8JHlp
— The Celtic Star Editor – INVINCIBLE (@CelticStarMag) July 27, 2020
