Transfer News and Rumors - Summer 2024

[pash]

But can we afford him?!

[pash]

Couldn't find the recording of the interview itself, but perhaps this gives a taste of what's to come? Might imply we'll pass on Schwab, for example.
 

https://inpaok.com/822585/to-plano-kai-i-proika-tou-2019/

[pash]

Sites are reiterating Red Bull Salzburg's interest in Konstantelias. Come on guys drop 20 million on him, do it, make a splash, you know you want to.

Asteras also interested in extending their loan for Lyratzis for another season. We don't really need three RBs, and his contract with us is through June of 2026, so I could see that happening.

InPAOK is saying Lucescu wants to keep all three of Kedziora, Meite, and Schwab. I should note that Kedziora is a free agent from Dinamo Kyiv next month (our loan took him through to the end of his original contract), so he and Schwab would be cheap. I am not sure that means we should re-sign them, though - I feel the team could find upgrades for all three players, even though I do like them all. Perhaps this will cause a rift that leads to Razvan leaving again, hahahaaaaaa

[pash]

I doubt this is true. But it would be in line with our recent history of buying out-of-form former AEK strikers.

https://inpaok.com/822630/kroatika-mme-o-paok-ekane-prosfora-se-livagia/

[Bananas]

15 hours ago, pash said:

InPAOK is saying Lucescu wants to keep all three of Kedziora, Meite, and Schwab. I should note that Kedziora is a free agent from Dinamo Kyiv next month (our loan took him through to the end of his original contract), so he and Schwab would be cheap. I am not sure that means we should re-sign them, though - I feel the team could find upgrades for all three players, even though I do like them all. Perhaps this will cause a rift that leads to Razvan leaving again, hahahaaaaaa

The issue with getting new players is they take a very long time (for some unknown reason) to integrate into the team.  So the question is, what's more important: qualifying for the CL or getting a new bunch of players that will take 6 months to learn the way Lucescu wants to play.

For myself, I think we would be insane to not sign Kedziora.  What more can the guy do?  He was rock solid this season, the definition of reliable.  Even if we got 2 new CB's I'd still sign Kedziora.  Same goes for Meite and Schwab.  They will all have a role to play in a long season with lots of games.

[Bananas]

15 hours ago, pash said:

Sites are reiterating Red Bull Salzburg's interest in Konstantelias. Come on guys drop 20 million on him, do it, make a splash, you know you want to.

Hard to believe - I think it's that time of year when the media need to start inventing stories to fill the pages.  If they want to spend that much I guess the club would consider it but it's not really an upgrade - more of a side grade.  I don't think the kid would want to go there.  On a side note, I don't think he's ready to leave the club yet.  He's had basically one good season.  Not outstanding - just good.  He needs to first be absolutely killing it in the Greek League before leaving for a tougher league.

[pash]

It could be, but I would sure hate to retain a player and realize he hit his peak last year.

 

I forgot to add to my list of players - Filipe Soares (who had a pretty bad loan spell) and Marios Tsaousis are also scheduled to return. Soares played only eight times (and got one assist), so I doubt Famalicao will activate any purchase clause they had. Tsaousis fared a bit better with 23 appearances, a few assists, and a goal. I'd imagine both will be loaned out again.

[pash]

Be still my beating heart, we have so many rumors!

Attacking midfielder from Russia, Anton Miranchuk: https://www.transfermarkt.us/anton-miranchuk/profil/spieler/255451 - he is an upcoming free agent.

Another random name is Marcel Hartel, who plays CM for St Pauli: https://www.transfermarkt.us/marcel-hartel/profil/spieler/189073 - I think we should hire him just based on what I've heard about that club tbh

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7WCm0boHod/

 

Anyway, Miranchuk would really only make sense if we sell Konstantelias. Unless Lucescu would plan to play one of those attacking midfielders as left wingers. As for Hartel, I could see it. We could potentially be losing three midfielders, after all.

[pash]

A few sites are reporting we may be making an offer to Konstantinos Thimianis, who is about to become a free agent. He scored four goals for them last season.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/konstantinos-thymianis/profil/spieler/481680

https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-metagrafes-sto-cheri-toy-dikefaloy-i-oloklirosi-tis-metagrafis-toy-thymiani.10323434.html

Not sure that I buy that the team specifically wants to buy Greek players, but I would much rather they take a chance on these guys than scrubs like Nasberg. I would note, however, that I looked through most of Panserraikos' play-off lineups and didn't see him there. Makes me wonder...

 

Anyway, here's a highlights video. He seems to play both CB and DM, judging by the highlights.

 

Edited May 27 by pash

[pash]

So many rumors! So many free agents!

https://www.transfermarkt.com/andre-ramalho/profil/spieler/175792

 

We're also rumored to be acquiring Antonis Tsiftis from Asteras. He is a keeper with one year left on his contract.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/antonis-tsiftsis/profil/spieler/390539

 

We are also rumored to be acquiring  Georgios Liavas, who plays RB for Panaitolikos. Two years left on his contract. This means we'd have potentially six RBs on the roster, were we to bring Lyratzis and Kedziora to preseason (Thimianis apparently also plays the position).

https://www.transfermarkt.com/georgios-liavas/profil/spieler/481676

 

Sport24 is saying that we're close to an agreement with Benfica for Meite, but the player is "weighing his options."

 

Also, because I can't resist, there is a hilarious rumor on transfermarkt about us being linked with Anthony Martial. The conversation shows this is totally legit.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/anthony-martial-to-paok-thessaloniki-/thread/forum/343/thread_id/14549/page/1#anchor_21810

[PaokCT]

We need certain # of Greek homegrown players for Champions League registration. I think that's why we are in talks with these players. I wouldn't mind having backups who are Greek, but I don't see us buying any starter quality Greeks besides Pelkas. I would take Tzolis back, as his team did not qualify for Bundesliga. Even someone like Giannoulis to split time w/ Baba

[pash]

So you think we'd ditch Rafa Soares? I am not sure I see the point in re-hiring him.

 

As for these Hellenic scrubs - I have said many times that I'd rather have Greek rotational players than the third-tier foreigners the team hires for those positions. So I am fine with this, but I think their choices of position players that don't play in positions of need are weird. Except for the Panserraikos guy, that is.

 

I don't follow the homegrown players part - what is the rule specifically? I thought we just needed "domestic" (read: EU) players for this?

[PaokCT]

The Homegrown Player Rule is a rule for UEFAcompetitions that was first introduced in 2006–07 season and fully enforced beginning in the 2008–09 season. On top of a maximum 25 players for List A, clubs had to designate a minimum 8 players that were trained by clubs from the same national league, with 4 of them being from the club's own youth system.^[1] The rule in turn capped a maximum of 17 foreigners for the club in UEFA competitions.

[pash]

Thanks big daddy

 

Salzburg may be coming back with a €15mm offer for Konstantelias, allegedly with a €1.5mm salary and some bonuses to the player. I would definitely take 15, if I were PAOK...

[pash]

Oooh, things might be moving fast with the li'l guy:

https://inpaok.com/823161/apokalypsi-inpaok-etoimazetai-gia-afstria-o-konstantelias/

https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/1202523_protasi-15-ekat-eyro-tis-saltsmpoyrgk-gia-ton-konstantelia

If the details are correct, this could be a very good deal for us.

 

Looks like we might be seeing progress with renewing Schwab soon, too.

[pash]

We might also be interested in Zouglis from Asteras. He's a 20-year-old winger who seems able to play on both sides. Makes a lot more sense than buying yet another right back.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/nikolaos-zouglis/profil/spieler/814525

[PaokCT]

We just made 600,000 Euros. Fortuna permanently signed Tzolis and we received 17.5% from it

[pash]

They would have been stupid not to, with his numbers. Good news for our bank account I guess, but it's a shame they didn't get promoted. Made the buy even more of a no-brainer for them.

Also good news: Savvidis has plowed another 13 million into the club (an additional equity investment).

 

[PaokCT]

All signs are pointing to us having a VERY BUSY transfer window. I can see us bringing in as many as 7-8 players. Figure 4 rotational players, 4 starters. Let's see how much $ we dish out.

[pash]

For sure.

Turks are apparently going nuts with Lucescu rumors btw. New set today saying he's meeting some Besiktas people in Thessaloniki (though I thought he had already gone back to Romania??). It would be just like us to lose him, and therefore all of our progress.

[PaokCT]

His buyout has to be a lot, right? If he leaves us again, he won't be welcome back in Thessaloniki. Two times now.

 

If he does, Fernando Santos, welcome!

[Dutch Eagle]

14 minutes ago, PaokCT said:

His buyout has to be a lot, right?

It isn't.

Lucescu's contract includes a clause allowing him to leave for €2 million if he receives an offer from one of the top five European leagues, or €4 million if the offer comes from outside these leagues.

[pash]

Yeah, Besiktas could easily afford the price. While this could just be twitter banter, there is a very real danger that they could snatch him away from us.

Fortunately, there are also other rumors floating around - Mourinho is available, and might be interested.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40184004/besiktas-president-says-club-talks-hire-jose-mourinho

From the article:
"He said he would think about it and give us an answer. He responded after a while and said he would like to meet again in Italy next week.

"We [have] met Mourinho's financial expectations. We are prepared to satisfy his salary demands. We will evaluate his hiring with the board of directors. If we reach an agreement with Mourinho, we will recommend that he includes [ex-Besiktas player] Ricardo Quaresma in the [coaching] team."

 

-edit- I know every news site reads us, so perhaps this was written by Mr Tsalgatidis to make me feel better.

https://inpaok.com/823306/o-loutseskou-ekopse-ton-vicha-ton-tourkon/

Edited May 30 by pash

[Bananas]

9 hours ago, pash said:

They would have been stupid not to, with his numbers. Good news for our bank account I guess, but it's a shame they didn't get promoted. Made the buy even more of a no-brainer for them.

Also good news: Savvidis has plowed another 13 million into the club (an additional equity investment).

 

Sheez, apparently we are still not financially self sufficient.  The article states the sum total of funds invested by Ivan Savvidis is 194 million.  Not enough I tells ya, not enough.  Leave now!  Oust.

[pash]

We're kind of at the point where 13 million is probably not making a big dent - I don't think that even covers wages for a year.

However, there's another possibility - if financial fair play essentially caps any yearly inflows by ownership, but does not cap aggregate inflows across years (I'm not sure if this is the case), then he could be just contributing the max he can each year, regardless of how much the team actually needs. That would build up the team's cash position for any future uses. Just a thought, though.

 

Also, to circle back on PaokCT's post - if we get a handful of rotational players and then four starter level dudes, we could be seeing some significant outflows. And if we get ~15mm for Konstantelias, and manage to sign that Russian dude as his replacement (as a free agent), then we will be in a fantastic position to spend elsewhere.