Vasilis Barkas targeted by SEVILLA as Celtic loanee Bernabei caught in loan move crossfire - Parkhead news bulletin

Vasilis Barkas is being eyed for a shock transfer to SEVILLA after taking his career from strength to strength since leaving Celtic.

The Greek shotstopper was a £4.5m addition between the sticks in 2020 but was infamously poor during his time at Parkhead. He was loaned out to Utrecht after a disastrous and expensive two years that cost the Hoops over £280,000 for every game he played. But he's been in fine form since moving to the Netherlands and after making that switch permanent a year ago, he hasn't looked back.

Barkas has played 62 times in total, keeping 16 clean sheets, and is the undisputed No.1 for the Eredivisie side. However, his contract is up in the summer and Sevilla have made him their No.1 target. The Spanish club want competition for Norwegian international keeper Orjan Nyland, who is now 33, after they suffered a disappointing season where they are only six points clear of the drop zone.

Celtic coughed up to AEK Athens four years ago to land Barkas, but he produced a series of disappointing performances and the current champions eventually agreed to release him. Barkas said at the time: "I am really happy about what has happened and I also want to thank Celtic for releasing me from my contract and for what they did for me in the last few years. I did my best there. At the end of the day, it was ok."

Elsewhere, loan defender Alexandro Bernabei was named as Man of the Match after finally making his debut for Brazilian side Internacional. But his new boss is battling to keep his job after a fans protest.

The Argentinian full back left the Hoops on loan last month, but his arrival in Brazil was delayed when he missed his flight. It took him almost a month to make his bow for his new club after playing this week for Internacional in a 0-0 draw against Bolivian outfit Real Tomayapo in a Copa Sudamerican Cup tie. He was named Man of the Match by the TV channel who covered the game - it was his first game since his farewell game for Celtic as a sub in the home draw with Kilmarnock in February.

But his debut was overshadowed by demonstrations by Internacional fans against Argentinian manager Eduardo Coudet, who vowed not to quit after the game. He said: "I never hide from the fans. If they want to talk to me, I am always available. This club has a lot of demands from the supporters and I understand that. But we need to stick together as a group."

And former Hoops boss Gordon Strachan reckons Matt O'Riley is the ONLY player within the Celtic and Rangers squads who is capable of stepping up to a top six Premier League club. He's been one of the stars of the show for Brendan Rodgers this season and his Panenka penalty against Rangers caught the eye.

And Strachan told BoyleSports: "If we're talking about just a Premier League side, I would say John Lundstram can play there, Tavernier can play, Sima can play, and Jack Butland. For Celtic, Hatate, McGregor, O'Riley and Carter-Vickers. If you say to me who could play in the top six? I would say O'Riley. I think he could."