Transfer News and Rumors - Summer 2026

[paokarag4]

Once again we move at an astrnomically slow speed. These are key decisions that need to be made quickly, not a week and a half before pre-season is due to commence. 

There has been ample time for the club to move on Lucescu and have brought in a new manager and have been focusing on transfers and what type of player the new coach wants/needs. 

Instead we are here with the club seemingly scrambling late in the piece trying to figure out what the coaching staff will look like for 26-27. Poor managment and such slow decision making always sets us behind the 8 ball and it's only June. It sets us up to chase our tail for the rest of the season. 

[PAOKSYD]

The way Savvidis runs the club is a joke. 

[Blackhawk]

Apparently Kedziora wants to leave and sign with Dynamo Kiev. 

[pash]

This is great news; and with Lucescu gone there should be fewer obstacles to it. We need to get younger AND better defensively.

[Blackhawk]

If Kedziora leaves, we will need to sign 3 center backs. Not sure how it can be accomplished. In the past when we needed a CB we ended in the last minutes with over the hill Lovren. I think Kedziora is a decent CB, but like some other players on the team he has been overused by Lucescu. I would keep him as long as we acquire another starter in that position.

[pash]

There are a few rumored names over the last day or so. Both are 32 years old and play in Spain.

 

CB - Aritz Elustondo. Last played for Real Sociedad, and will be a free agent on the 30th:

https://www.transfermarkt.us/aritz-elustondo/profil/spieler/229804

 

CM - Baptiste Santamaria. Currently plays for Valencia and has a contract through the 26/27 season:

https://www.transfermarkt.us/baptiste-santamaria/profil/spieler/285323

[paokarag4]

Kedziora officially been announced by Dynamo Kyiv. Michailidis the only senior center back left in the squad as things stand. The center of our defence is going to look very different in 26-27. Lots of work to do for Vieirinha and Matos

[pash]

Out with the old in with the new!!!!

[pash]

As was the case last summer, they're saying we want Chatzidiakos again. Don't know how realistic that is considering he's been with Copenhagen for only a season. Though I'll note that last season didn't seem to go too well for them, as they ended up (barely) in the bottom half of the table. But, confusingly, still managed a conference league spot for this summer.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/pantelis-hatzidiakos/profil/spieler/144244

Tbh I doubt he'd be too expensive. Age isn't terrible as well, and we obviously need a replacement for Kedziora (and I generally support actually having Greeks on the roster).

[pash]

Also rumors that we might activate our clause for Bianco - I like that; I thought he was pretty decent.

[pash]

PAOK Today reporting about two minutes ago that Aritz Elustondo is imminently going to be acquired.

-edit- rumored offer is 1.2mm per year for a two year contract. As usual the Internet jumped the gun on this actually being imminent (lol)

Edited Tuesday at 02:30 PM by pash

[PAOKARA]

Good to see we’re trying to get younger 

[Soprano76]

With the way the offseason has been shaping up, I find it hard to see anything better than a 4th place finish this upcoming season. The remainder of the "Big 4" seem to be going about their business in a smarter fashion. 

[PaokCT]

I had this convo with our friend from Dorchester. We will be competing for the final European spot this year

[pash]

Some more rumors...

Alexandros Kyziridis - the guy who plays for Hearts, recently capped for Greece. LW.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/alexandros-kyziridis/profil/spieler/586538

https://inpaok.com/906607/o-paok-thelei-kyziridi/

 

Giakoumakis still in play, allegedly we're trying to do the same loan again. Sh!t or get off the pot, I say.

https://inpaok.com/906632/anoikto-to-thema-giakoumaki-paok/

 

Apparently we're trying to retain Ozdoyev, for some reason. Typical of us.

https://inpaok.com/906630/diastasi-apopseon-paok-ozntoef/

 

-edit- another one I just saw - Liel Abada, an Israeli player who plays for Charlotte FC in MLS. Formerly of Celtic. RW.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/liel-abada/profil/spieler/519514

Edited Tuesday at 09:05 PM by pash

[pash]

Rumors that we now want Baba's countryman Kwasi Sibo, who is about to become a free agent. CM.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/kwasi-sibo/profil/spieler/538006

Extraordinarily uninspiring choice, if true.

-edit- apparently we are also trying to get Taison again, on a one year deal.

Kostas Polykratis, a LB from the B team, may be transferred to Kifissia for a resale percentage 

Edited Thursday at 04:48 PM by pash

[PaokCT]

With the coach’s connection, we are looking to get middle of the road La Liga players. Great. 

[pash]

Another rumor:

https://www.transfermarkt.us/miguel-merentiel/profil/spieler/481367

 

I'm guessing this may be if we don't lock down Giakoumakis.

 

-edit- (i'm doing edits so i don't make 300 different posts per day)

looks like we offered 2mm + some resale for Bianco, while our clause was 4mm. It was rejected.

Edited Thursday at 09:00 PM by pash

[pash]

More rumors of price talk:

 

[pash]

Here's another rumor out of Portugal - though the player has a release clause of 6mm (and apparently there is competition for him):

https://www.transfermarkt.us/vitor-carvalho/profil/spieler/553062

I'm not sure why we're linked with like 15 midfielders...even with Ozdoyev and Bianco departing (if they truly do), we'd still have four. Surely we're just one away from filling out that spot?

[pash]

A picture is worth a thousand words, etc etc

[Blackhawk]

Happy about pappou Taison. He can contribute for one more year as long as the new coach uses him wisely.