Four AEK players expected to draw interest

AGONAsport takes a look at four AEK players who are expected to receive plenty of interest during the upcoming summer transfer window.

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Currently, the 2019/2020 season is paused and could even possibly be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but clubs are already beginning to put their transfer plans together for the summer. With Massimo Carrera having steadied the ship, AEK are aiming to strengthen their squad while keeping the leading lights, however, they could be tempted into cashing in. 

Let’s take a look at four players who are expected to be on the shortlist of foreign teams in the transfer window:

Petros Mantalos

It’s hard to imagine AEK without Mantalos. The engine of the team, the 28-year-old has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, tallying a grand total of 11 goals and 10 assists across all competitions for the Kitrinomavri. According to reports, Turkish teams are displaying interest in the attacking midfielder, with Super Lig leaders Basaksehir particularly eager to sign him. 

AEK certainly don’t want to part with their captain, though. In the summer of 2018, AEK rejected a bid from West Bromwich Albion for Mantalos, before they didn’t allow Al Wahda to sign him in the winter transfer window. An offer close to 10 million will get AEK thinking.

Transfermarkt value: 3.5 million

Vasilis Barkas

Barkas has emerged as perhaps the most talented Greek goalkeeper in the Super League. In the current season, the 25-year-old has registered 10 clean sheets in 20 games of the domestic championship, helping AEK recover from a disastrous start to the campaign. Since AEK became Greek champions in 2018, the Enosi have consistently received offers for Barkas, notably a bid of five million from an unnamed Italian team before the subsequent season began and 4.5 million from Montpellier in the summer of 2019. Montpellier had two offers of four and 4.5 million rejected.

Greek media outlets have stated that clubs from major European leagues are closely monitoring Barkas’ progress and preparing bids.

Transfermarkt value: 3 million

Marko Livaja

The feisty Croat has been a standout figure for AEK and Greek club football since his arrival from Las Palmas in July 2017. Previously, Livaja was known for having encountered several disciplinary issues in his career, but he settled at AEK and has largely stayed out of trouble. Gifted with wonderful technical ability, the 26-year-old forward provides AEK with great flair, netting nine goals and dishing out nine assists this season across all tournaments. Italian clubs are known to be in favour of signing him from AEK.

In January, SPAL reportedly submitted a bid of four million for Livaja, but it was quickly dismissed by the Enosi. Sampdoria were also heavily interested after AEK won the 2017/2018 title.

Transfermarkt value: 4 million

Nelson Oliveira

Oliveira, 28, made the jump to Athens from Norwich last summer having fallen out of favour in England. In the first half of the campaign, the Portuguese forward impressed with his goalscoring antics in the league, grabbing nine goals, including a hat trick against Panionios at the Olympic Stadium. In January, Wolverhampton Wanderers offered AEK about five million for Oliveira, but they didn’t activate his release clause of 6.5 million and opted against signing him.

It remains to be seen if the English side, which signed Daniel Podence from Olympiacos, will return for Oliveira in the off-season. 

Transfermarkt value: 3.5 million

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