CELTIC’S £4.5million misfit Vasilis Barkas is on the brink of joining English Championship side Swansea City.
And the Greek flop could face former Hoops glove rival Conor Hazard in the new season after the Irishman signed for newly-promoted Plymouth Argyle.
Both keepers had dropped down the ranks at the champions behind first-choice Joe Hart and back-up duo Benji Siegrist and Scott Bain.
Hazard was fourth in the running order while Barkas was completely out of the picture after spending last season on loan at Dutch outfit FC Utrecht.
THE CUP THAT CHEERS…Neil Lennon holds aloft the Scottish Cup that sealed the quadruple treble at Hampden on Deecember 20 2020 with hero Conor Hazard (extreme right, top) and Vasilis Barkas (top left) joining in the celebrations.
The calamity shotstopper arrived with a big reputation as the Greek international No.1 as Neil Lennon was persuaded to make him the most expensive custodian in the club’s history when he bought him from AEK Athens in July 2020.
Unfortunately, he nosedived resoundingly and eventually dropped behind Hazard, the hero of the phenomenal quadruple treble achievement, and Bain.
Barkas still had a year to run on his terms, but his contract has been scrapped by the Hoops, as CQN reported over five weeks ago, and he is now on the look-out for a new club.
He made only two first-team appearances under Ange Postecoglou before getting the boot.
Barkas is now in talks with Swansea as he attempts to secure his future, according to Greek media outlet Sport Time.
HAMPDEN HERO…Conor Hazard in command during the Scottish Cup Final against Hearts on December 20 2020 when Celtic clinched the remarkable quadruple treble.
He could catch up with another Hoops flop Olivier Ntcham at the Welsh club. The French midfielder, who coincidentally also cost £4.5 million when he arrived from Manchester City in the summer of 2017, joined the second-tier outfit four years ago after an unsuccessful loan stint at Marseille.
Meanwhile, the champions have confirmed Hazard has ended a nine-year association with the club by signing for Plymouth.
The 6ft 4in last line of defence had temporary transfers at Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Dundee to provide regular first-team football that enabled him to win four caps with Northern Ireland.
Hazard made his first competitive start for the team in December 2020 in a Europa League group stage 3-2 victory over Lille in Glasgow.
PENALTY SAVE No.1…Conor Hazard dives to his right to deny Stephen Kingsley.
PENALTY SAVE No.2…Conor Hazard swoops to his left to repel Craig Wighton’s attempt.
That was followed 10 days later with his astonishing display against Hearts in the Covid-delayed Scottish Cup Final as Neil Lennon’s team looked to claim a historic twelfth successive domestic honour.
It was deadlocked at 3-3 after extra-time before the tie went to a penalty-kick shoot-out and Hazard was the hero, plunging twice to repel two efforts to write his name into folklore at Paradise.
He made five appearances that season before going on loan to Finnish title winners HJK Helsinki where he won the club’s Player of the Year award.
The club issued a statement to wish Conor success in his future career.
