Kampetsis and Vergos on verge of joining Panathinaiko
As the summer transfer window approaches its climax, Panathinaikos are close to signing forwards Anargyros Kampetsis and Nikos Vergos, while businessman Pairoj Piempongsant is travelling to Greece.
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After many weeks of negotiations, Panathinaikos have finally struck a deal with Borussia Dortmund to sign 19-year old Greek forward Anargyros Kampetsis, who will sign a long-term contract with the Athenians. According to various sources in the media, all that remains is for Kampetsis to pass his medical examinations with Panathinaikos and the move will then become official. Dortmund will maintain a resale rate for Kampetsis’ next transfer.
Initially, there were talks of a loan for Kampetsis, but Panathinaikos technical director Nikos Dabizas demanded a permanent transfer and he eventually found common ground with Borussia Dortmund. Born in Athens, Kampetsis moved to Dortmund from Olympiacos in July 2017, scoring three UEFA Youth League goals with the Germans and playing with the club’s reserves. Kampetsis has also netted six markers in 19 appearances for the under 19 Greek national team.
VERGOS MOVING TO PANATHINAIKOS FROM PIRAEUS
Alongside Kampetsis, the Greens are close to landing the signature of Olympiacos striker Nikos Vergos. Now 22 years of age, Vergos has struggled to assert himself in the Olympiacos first team, spending three rather unsuccessful loan spells at Elche, Real Madrid B and Vasas. With Olympiacos signing Miguel Angel Guerrero and Ahmed Hassan, he won’t receive many chances in Piraeus and the Thrylos have agreed to let Vergos go to arch-rivals Panathinaikos.
Olympiacos will keep a 25% resale rate for Vergos while releasing the forward to Panathinaikos on a free. During the first half of the 2017/2018 season, Vergos played in four Hungarian league matches with Vasas and failed to score a single goal.
DEAL WITH PIEMPONGSANT NEARING CONCLUSION
In other news, Pan Asia owner Pairoj Piempongsant will travel to Athens in the coming days to finalise his takeover of the club from Giannis Alafouzos. On Wednesday, a Board of Directors meeting will take place, before a share capital increase of 20 million euros will be approved on Thursday.
For his part, Alafouzos has stuck to the original agreement with Piempongsant and is now awaiting the Thai businessman’s response. There is hope that the entire takeover will be completed in August which will allow Panathinaikos to have a scandal-free 2018/2019 campaign.
DONIS EAGER TO SIGN EXPERIENCED STRIKER
At the same time, Dabizas and Panathinaikos head coach Giorgos Donis are waiting for the green light from Piempongsant to sign a forward which can be paid a yearly wage of up to one million euros.
While the club are on the verge of signing Kampetsis and Vergos, boss Donis wants to add some experience to the forward line, and reports have linked the Greens to PAS Giannina’s Pedro Conde and 29-year old Spanish striker Cristian Lopez. Last season, Conde enjoyed a superb year with PAS, registering 14 Super League goals and he does have a release clause of 900,000. On the other hand, Lopez scored 10 Ligue 2 goals at French club Lens but his contract was scrapped this summer.
