IFK Goteborg are poised to end Celtic keeper Vasilis Barkas ’ horror spell in Scottish football.
The Swedish outfit are hunting a new No.1 and the Greek – who has failed to live up to his £5milllion transfer fee – has moved onto their radar.
Barkas has slipped down the pecking order at Parkhead with Joe Hart and Scott Bain, who recently signed a new contract, holding the top two positions. The Gothenburg outfit are scouring the continent for a keeper after last term’s first-choice Giannis Anestis left the club.
FC Copenhagen’s Sten Grytebust was lined-up to fill the void but that deal fell through on medical grounds. They last night secured a deal to take their 18-year-old former Academy graduate Gustav Lillienberg back to the club from Southampton.
Fellow teenager Adam Ingi Benediktsson, 19, also inked a long-term contract last autumn but IFK are still after an established No.1 who’s top-team ready.
Gothenburg have looked into a loan for Barkas but would need to stump up the cash to make a temporary agreement suitable to Celtic.
Celtic spent big on Barkas at the beginning of last term but he has failed to hit the heights and Hart’s long-term contract makes him No.1.
Ange Postecoglou has suggested that there could be loan outgoings before the close of the transfer window and Albian Ajeti is wanted by FC Basle.
The Swiss are seeking a replacement for departing Brazilian Arthur Cabal and the 24-year-old striker is on their list of targets.
The Celtic boss said: “We’re still working on trying to get some loan opportunities for some of our boys.
“I’d expect there will be some sort of activity between now and the end of the window.
“It could even go beyond the window as there are certain markets around the world that don’t close at that time.
“There might be guys who we’re still trying to get opportunities.”
