Report: Celtic interested in Greek goalkeeper Vasilios Barkas, willing to pay £5.4m

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Greek outlet SDNA have claimed that Celtic are interested in signing AEK Athens goalkeeper Vasilios Barkas this summer and are willing to spend as much as £5.4million to lure the Greece international to Glasgow.

Barkas, 26, is said to have been on Celtic’s shortlist for almost two years after the Hoops were knocked out of the Champions League qualifying stage by Barkas and AEK Athens. This season, he has been in excellent form.

Clocking up 24 appearances in all competitions, Barkas has kept clean sheets in half of those matches – conceding only 19 goals in total. Head of operations Nick Hammond is said to be working on a deal to land the goalkeeper.

It also claims that Celtic are willing to go as high as €6million or £5.4million – but may even increase that offer if they believe the player in question can help keep Old Firm rivals Rangers at bay. Fraser Forster is likely to remain first.

TBR’s view – Is Barkas worth signing?

It purely depends on what Celtic would need to spend to complete the permanent signing of Forster. Southampton will be desperate to get the goalkeeper’s enormous wages off their list os expenditures.

That may see the Saints open to accepting a cut-price figure, especially given they are hardly going to bring in a premium rate in the current climate. Re-signing Forster is absolutely imperative – but if they cannot, 6ft 5in Barkas might be the next best thing.