Celtic’s £4.1 million bid rejected for top transfer target

Celtic were reportedly close to personal terms with a goalkeeper until their bid was rejected by the selling club this past week.

Celtic are in desperate need of a goalkeeper after the departure of Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon. Scott Bain is the only first team keeper with any real first team minutes left on the roster, and after the Hoops’ French tour Bain did not leave such a great impression he can lead the way to 10-in-a-row.

Now, the Hoops were apparently close to personal terms with AEK Athens goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, however, Celtic were not close to the asking price for the keeper and a second bid is expected from the Hoops according to Sport Time. Barkas is perhaps one of the most coveted targets for the Hoops and seen by many fans as instrumental for achieving the 10th straight league championship.

According to TBR Football, Celtic have offered ‘£3.2 million, plus £900,000 in bonuses.’ however AEK Athens values their man at ‘£6.4 million to £7.3 million.’ Just recently the Hoops were unwilling to spend £5 million for Newcastle United’s keeper Karl Darlow who even has English Premier League experience. Therefore, one must assume that Barkas has to be that much more highly rated and the top target for the club.

With a reported second bid coming from the Hoops one has to imagine it will at least be close to AEK Athens’ valuation of the player. With so much on the line the Hoops can not afford to let a top transfer target slip through the cracks at the last minute.

All of this news appears to be heading in the right direction for the Hoops. After weeks and months of watching players leave and the club whiff on new players a victory would be good. Any additional time the new keeper could spend with the first team prior to the season kick-off would be beneficial. Let’s hope this deal gets done quickly.