EXCLUSIVE: Celtic eye former Dundee United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist as replacement for Vasilis Barkas… after Greece international’s Parkhead misery was ended by season-long loan move to Dutch side Utrecht
- Vasilis Barkas signed for Celtic in a £5m move from AEK Athens two seasons ago
- The Greece goalkeeper still has two years to run on his deal at Celtic Park
- But one of those will be spent trying to rebuild his damaged reputation
- Benjamin Siegrist spent four seasons at Dundee and played almost 150 games
Benjamin Siegrist has emerged as a candidate to replace outgoing goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas at Celtic.
Sportsmail revealed Utrecht’s move to end the Parkhead misery of Greek international Barkas on Saturday.
And the Dutch club on Tuesday night confirmed a season-long loan deal on their official club website.
Benjamin Siegrist has emerged as a candidate to replace Vasilis Barkas at Celtic
Greek international Barkas’ season-long loan move to Utrecht was confirmed on Tuesday
Barkas, signed in a £5million move from AEK Athens two seasons ago, still has two years to run on his Celtic deal. At least one of those will be spent trying to rebuild his damaged reputation in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Utrecht technical director Jordy Zuidam said: ‘Due to the ongoing injury of Fabian de Keijzer and the departure of Eric Oelschlägel, we aimed to strengthen our goalkeepers’ guild.
‘We are very pleased that this has been achieved with Vasilis Barkas.
‘Vasilis is a big and athletic goalkeeper. He has good reflexes, rules in the air in the box, stands his ground in one-on-one duels and has charisma.
‘Vasilis is also an experienced keeper, who has played under the bar at top clubs in Greece and Scotland and has played the necessary international matches with Greece. He gives our team an absolute boost.’
Former England number one Joe Hart and Scott Bain remain part of the Celtic goalkeeping roster.
Keen to bring in more experience before a return at the Champions League, however, former Tannadice keeper Siegrist is high on a list of alternatives.
Siegrist, 30, spent four seasons at Dundee United and played almost 150 games before opting to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Joe Hart (left) and Scott Bain remain part of the Ange Postecoglou’s goalkeeping roster