Daniel Podence Eurokinissi Sports
Final Countdown: Greek Clubs Race to Complete Transfers Before European Deadlines
As the summer transfer window approaches its conclusion, Greek football clubs competing in European tournaments are intensifying their efforts to finalize key signings. Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, PAOK, and AEK Athens are all engaged in a swift push to strengthen their squads ahead of the critical deadline on September 2nd.
While the domestic transfer window in Greece remains open until September 12th, the cutoff for registering players eligible for European competitions is notably earlier. Clubs participating in UEFA tournaments must submit their final squad lists by Tuesday, September 2nd. Any acquisitions made after this date will be ineligible to feature in the group stages of their respective European campaigns.
This constraint has accelerated transfer activities, with all four Greek representatives working diligently to resolve outstanding deals within the next few days.
Olympiacos Targets Defensive Reinforcements and Attacking Depth
Speaking from Monaco during the Champions League draw, Olympiacos owner Vangelis Marinakis confirmed plans to bolster the squad by adding a central defender, a winger, and a striker. The club is on the verge of completing the signing of Gustavo Mancha, a 21-year-old center-back from Fortaleza. The Brazilian defender is expected to arrive in Greece on Saturday at 17:45 to finalize a four-year contract. The transfer fee is reported to be around €4.5 million, with Fortaleza retaining 15% of Mancha’s economic rights.
In attack, Olympiacos appears close to securing Mehdi Taremi from Inter Milan, pending the Iranian forward’s approval. Italian sources suggest Olympiacos currently leads the race for his signature against other interested clubs.
The winger position remains a focal point, with Daniel Podence actively pursuing a return to the club. Negotiations between the parties are advanced, while the pursuit of Bryan Hill faces challenges. Meanwhile, interest in Sandino Antino has cooled, as Godoy Cruz remains reluctant to sell despite Olympiacos increasing their offer to €7.5 million.
PAOK Secures Defensive Addition, Eyes Midfield Reinforcement
PAOK has prioritized strengthening its defense, successfully arranging the loan acquisition of Alessandro Voliako from Genoa. The defender is scheduled to arrive in Thessaloniki on Saturday to complete the deal, which includes an option to buy. Voliako will join a backline featuring Michailidis, Kędziora, and Lovren.
Attention now shifts to midfield, where PAOK aims to add a central midfielder to complement Kamara, Meité, and Ozdoev. Although there is hope for an early integration of Zafeiris from Slavia Prague, the current agreement stipulates his arrival in January. The club also explored signing Gustavo Puerta from Bayer Leverkusen, but the Colombian midfielder reportedly declined the move to Greece.
Panathinaikos Pursues Key Striker and Creative Playmaker
Following Fotis Ioannidis’s transfer to Sporting Lisbon, Panathinaikos is actively seeking two forwards to enhance their attacking options. Milos Pandovic from Bačka Topola is expected in Athens on Saturday afternoon to serve as the third-choice striker. The primary focus, however, is securing a leading striker to spearhead the team’s goal-scoring efforts alongside Karol Świderski.
Regarding the attacking midfield role, with Unahi showing no interest in returning to Greece, Panathinaikos has shifted attention to Vicente Táborda. Reports from Argentina indicate that Boca Juniors have agreed to sell the 24-year-old attacking midfielder for approximately €4.3 million, covering 80% of his rights. Táborda is anticipated to sign a four-year contract with the Greens.
AEK Athens Prioritizes Midfield and Attacking Options
AEK’s transfer strategy centers on acquiring a central midfielder, as outlined by coach Marko Nikolić, alongside efforts to bring in a forward with distinct qualities to diversify the current attacking lineup.
Under certain conditions, the club may also pursue a right-back and an additional center-back. However, due to UEFA squad registration limits, these defensive reinforcements are not immediate priorities and could be postponed beyond the September 2nd deadline.