Celtic still have one game to play this season, the Scottish Cup final. After that, the focus will turn towards the summer transfer window. With another Champions League group stage campaign coming up, the Hoops must strengthen their squad further. And hopefully, they will make some good signings.
On the other hand, some are expected to be headed in the opposite direction. And while Celtic should try to keep hold of their best players, it looks like they are content to let Vasilis Barkas leave.
Barkas spent the season out on loan at FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie and earned a lot of plaudits for his performances. Thus, many wondered whether he could have a future at Celtic Park. But now, it looks like the club are ready to release him in what is a bit of a confusing decision to say the least.
As tweeted out by Giannis Chorianopoulos, Celtic and Barkas have an agreement and the Greek goalkeeper will be a free agent. The Hoops’ benefit is that they will not pay the last year of his contract.
Celtic agree to release player in confusing decision
Even if Celtic did not feel that Barkas had a future at the club, they could have easily gotten a transfer fee out of his exit. Especially after how well he did out on loan with FC Utrecht in the Dutch top flight this season.
As a result, the decision to let him go for nothing is certainly a confusing one to say the least. It remains to be seen when it will be made official.
Barkas was brought in for a transfer fee around £4.5 million in the summer of 2020 from AEK Athens. And if he does leave the club as a free agent this summer, he will go down as one of the worst signings in Celtic history.