According to a recent report by the Scottish Sun, Premiership giants Celtic are said to have opened talks with Greek outfit AEK Athens over the potential summer signing of goalkeeping sensation Vasilis Barkas. The Hoops are reportedly looking to sign him up for a fee in the region of £3.5m, but that the Greek heavyweights are holding out for a price in the £6m range. Lennon’s staff are said to be looking at a variety of options to take over as the goalkeeping number one at Parkhead next season, with their hopes of re-signing Fraser Forster from Southampton fading by the day.
Although the fact that Celtic are interested in AEK Athens’ Vasilis Barkas is now well-established, the onus falls onto the shoulders of Neil Lennon to try and cough up the finances required to bring him to Glasgow. The Bhoys are said to have kept tabs on the Athens stopper since the two sides met each other in the Champions League qualifiers in 2018. While the two parties have already held discussions regarding a potential transfer, the player himself is said to be quite keen on finding the switch if an agreement can be reached between the clubs. Ligue 1 outfit Montpellier and recently promoted Leeds United are both said to be considering the Greek keeper’s services for next season as well.
What Is Celtic’s Current Situation In Between The Sticks?
The Hoops are set to enter the upcoming Premiership campaign with just one realistic option to choose from in between the sticks. 28-year-old Scott Bain has been promoted to first-choice by Neil Lennon for the time being, having featured regularly in their friendly outings so far this summer. The Scot, despite some decent performances, hasn’t really covered himself in glory over the last few weeks, and the Celts’ desire to acquire a new goalkeeper prior to next season would only have heightened over the duration.
The Scot featured in just two Premiership outings over the entirety of last campaign, and his exploits didn’t show enough for him to warrant a regular place in the side. With Fraser Forster in the ranks as well, Lennon was rarely required to call on Bain’s services last season, but with the Englishman’s immediate future still lacking clarity, their interest in acquiring an alternate is only understandable. Although bringing the England international to Parkhead will be the priority, Southampton’s hesitance to allow him to depart could force the Hoops to head in another direction.
What Makes Vasilis Barkas A Good Option For Celtic?
The Greek stopper has shown himself in a very good light over the last couple of campaigns, and this is arguably what has triggered interest for his signature from not just the UK, but also France. The 26-year-old joined AEK Athens in the summer of 2016 and has since managed to nail down the starting spot in the side.
Not only does Barkas boast excellent reflexes and distribution skills, but his numbers from the last few campaigns have also been commendable as well. This term, the stopper featured in a total of 20 Super League appearances and managed to keep a whopping ten clean sheets, while conceding just 15 goals in the process.
Celtic Are Interested In AEK Athens’ Vasilis Barkas: Should Lennon Bring Him In?
The Celts are entering what could prove to be an extremely important season in their history, and going by the friendlies they’ve played out over recent weeks, it’s safe to say that they’ll be better off with a new goalkeeper in the ranks. Fraser Forster’s presence in between the sticks was an inexplicably large boost for the Bhoys last season, and the inability to properly replace him could end up having dire consequences on the side.
The position of goalkeeper is one of significant importance in football, and the Celts entering the campaign with only Bain as the realistic option could be the bane to their title-challenge next season.
