AEK Athens are desperate to sell Vasilios Barkas according to a report in the Daily Record.
Celtic have been linked with the goalkeeper with the hoops looking at a number of options although a new deal for Fraser Forster hasn’t yet been written off.
Barkas has been linked with Celtic for almost a year, at 26 he fits in with the club’s signing strategy but a fee of £5m in the current climate may be too steep although there is always room to negotiate.
The Daily Record reports:
AEK Athens are desperate to cash in on £5 million-rated Celtic target Vasilios Barkas. The Greek No.1 is amongst a host of targets being assessed by Parkhead chiefs as they hunt a goalkeeper.
Barkas is on the options list and European clubs have been alerted to the fact that the Athens giants will not play hardball as they desperately seek much-needed funds to make alterations to their own squad.
Record Sport understands AEK major backer Dimitris Melissanidis and technical director Ilia Ivic held a recent meeting where it was decided that selling the 26-year-old would be a key way to offset recent frustrating hits to the club’s coffers.
Joe Hart and David Marshall have also been linked with a move to Celtic with goalkeeping Neil Lennon’s problem position.
In March the hoops boss was spoiled for choice but the departures of Forster and Craig Gordon has left Celtic with just one keeper with first team experience.
Scott Bain looks like returning to favour for the pre-season matches but with four weeks to go until the SPFL Premiership season begins the clock is ticking down to a potentially historic season.
Behind Bain Celtic have Conor Hazard and Ross Doohan but despite experience on loan in the Championship neither has played a Premiership match.
