Ivic, AEK beginning to shape summer plans
AEK technical director, Ilija Ivic, is beginning to shape his plans for the summer transfer window with the club particularly aiming to strengthen the defence.
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The season came to an abrupt halt at the worst possible time for AEK. In promising form, AEK were only one point behind second-placed PAOK in the Super League, while they also held a 2-1 advantage over Aris in the semi-finals in the Greek Cup. Playing with plenty of confidence under the leadership of Massimo Carrera, the Kitrinomavri are once again a force to be reckoned with in Greece, and they will be hoping that they can continue in the same vein when the campaign does eventually restart. The coronavirus pandemic has prevented the season from running to schedule.
Ivic and Carrera are already beginning to put together some of their transfer plans for the summer, with AEK aiming to make a realistic tile challenge in the 2020/2021 season:
DEFENCE REQUIRING STRENGTHENING, OLIVEIRA STATE OF PLAY
Two defensive positions are a priority for AEK. Taking into account the poor form of Niklas Hult, the management is eager to sign a new left-back, while a central defender is also required considering that the future of Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Ognjen Vranjes is somewhat uncertain. Chygrynskiy, who is rather injury prone and isn’t enjoying a particularly solid campaign for AEK, could be shifted out of the Athens-based club. As for Vranjes, his loan from Anderlecht is due to expire, and AEK don’t have a purchase option for the Bosnian. Nevertheless, Anderlecht don’t want to keep Vranjes, who himself is desperate to remain an AEK player. The controversial 30-year-old is known to have a close relationship with the Original 21 fan movement.
The case of Nelson Oliveira is an interesting one. Signed from Norwich City last year, the Portuguese forward has managed to get his career back on track in the Greek capital, scoring 10 goals and dishing out seven assists across all competitions. At the moment, his contract with AEK runs until the completion of the 2020/2021 season, however the Kitrinomavri will reportedly try to sell the striker in the summer if he doesn’t agree to extend his deal with the organisation. Oliveira was close to a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers in January.
AEK also want to extend the contract with Marko Livaja.
LOAN DEALS, KLONARIDIS EXPECTED TO STAY, GOALKEEPING UNCERTAINTY
AEK are widely predicted to permanently sign talented Polish midfielder, Damian Szymanski, from Russian side Akhmat Grozny. The same can be said for Sergio Araujo. Since returning to AEK as a loanee from Las Palmas, Araujo has offered the Enosi plenty of endeavour and commitment on the field with his passionate play, also scoring the winning goal against Panathinaikos. AEK will have to pay Las Palmas a large compensation fee in the event that they decide not to sign Araujo.
During the first half of the campaign, the future appeared bleak for attacking midfielder Viktor Klonaridis, but the gifted 27-year-old has made a large improvement since Carrera became head coach. Klonaridis, boasting two goals in the Super League including a rocket against Panionios in early March, has managed to persuade Carrera to keep him in the team with his explosiveness and speed.
There is uncertainty concerning the goalkeeping situation. For quite some time, Vasilis Barkas has been linked with a transfer to a stronger European championship, and the upcoming summer could be the perfect opportunity for AEK to sell one of their prized possessions. If Barkas is sold, AEK will then sign another goalkeeper, with the management not convinced of Panagiotis Tsintotas’ ability to be a reliable first-choice option. Tsintotas, 26, has conceded 10 goals and tallied four clean sheets in 11 appearances in the 2019/2020 campaign.
MORE PLAYERS MOVING THROUGH EXIT DOOR
Not long ago, AEK sent Stavros Vasilantonopoulos and Giorgos Giakoumakis out on loan to Gornik Zabrze, with the Kitrinomavri keen for the Polish club to sign the pair on permanent deals when the 2019/2020 season ends. The coaches don’t see a future for David Simao (Hapoel Beer Sheva) or Milos Deletic (Asteras Tripolis) at AEK either.
Last summer, AEK secured a deal with Paulinho, however the Portuguese right-back has failed to make an impact in Athens and could be moving through the exit door before next season begins.
More transfer developments and plans will occur as the summer approaches. According to the latest reports, the Super League playoffs could begin in May, meaning that the season finishes in June. The 2020/2021 campaign will most probably start in June.
