CELTIC’S £4.5million misfit Vasilis Barkas is demanding to quit Parkhead in the summer.
The Greek international – the most expensive keeper in the club’s history – has failed to convince following his arrival from AEK Athens in the summer of 2020.
Ange Postecoglou insisted all the players were starting with a clean slate when he was named Neil Lennon’s long-term successor in June.
Barkas was chosen for the first competitive encounter with the new man in charge and the unreliable netminder blundered to allow FC Midtjylland to equalise direct from a floating free-kick in the 1-1 draw in the Champions League qualifier. The Hoops, with Scott Bain in goal, lost the second leg 2-1 in extra-time in Denmark to exit the elite European competition.
BLUNDER BHOY…Vasilis Barkas flaps at a free-kick to allow FC Midtjylland an equaliser at Parkhead in July.
The 27-year-old’s only other appearance in the top side came in the 3-1 Boxing Day win over St Johnstone in Perth when neither Joe Hart nor Bain was available.
Barkas has been less than impressive and, according to Greek media outlet Onlarissa, the expensive flop has “demanded” to leave Parkhead in the next transfer window at the end of the season.
The newspaper also stated the custodian has “already begun the countdown to his departure”.
It looked as though bungling Barkas, who has had a mere 24 first-team outings, would be on his way in January, but his reported £20,000-per-week wages proved a stumbling block with Sheffield United and IFK Gothenburg pulling out of proposed loan deals.
He is under contract until June 2024.
