Lampropoulos and Simoes moving towards AEK exit door
 

Not long ago, it appeared that Andre Simoes would stay at AEK after further talks with the management, however recent reports are suggesting the midfielder will leave the Athenians. AGONAsport investigates.

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Towards the end of 2018, Vasilis Lampropoulos, Andre Simoes and Anastasios Bakasetas were all ostracized from the main team for refusing to extend their expiring AEK contracts. Nevertheless, after entering further negotiations with owner Dimitris Melissanidis, Bakasetas signed a new deal through to 2022, and many expected Lampropoulos and Simoes to follow suit.

Initially, reports suggested that Simoes was willing to stay at AEK after failing to find any other suitable options, however it now seems that the 29-year-old will leave Athens after all. AEK offered Simoes a contract, but the player wasn’t impressed, supposedly telling his employers that he will only consider proposals exceeding 400,000 euros.

In an interview with Live Sport, Simoes’ agent Joaquim Ribeiro revealed that the proposals put forward by AEK have not been satisfactory: “We have received offers from AEK, but Andre and I dismissed them as they do not match up to our expectations. It’s not just a matter of money, the entire project is taken into consideration as well. I would also like to make it clear that we haven’t struck an agreement with any other club either. In the coming days, we will have another meeting with AEK, in which the situation will be cleared up. The next contract will be the most important of Andre’s career. It’s normal that he wants the best situation both for himself and his family.”

Live Sport also reported that there’s a strong possibility AEK will immediately cancel the contracts of Simoes and Lampropoulos by paying the two compensation. Lampropoulos was also offered a new contract by AEK, but upset with the way he was treated by the club in the winter, he isn’t interested in continuing negotiations and is focused on leaving.

Simoes has been on the books of AEK since 2015, winning the Greek Cup and Super League. For his part, 28-year-old defender Lampropoulos joined AEK in July 2014, helping the Kitrinomavri earn promotion from the Gamma Ethniki.

AEK EAGER TO KEEP ALEF

In July 2018, Brazilian midfielder Alef joined AEK on loan from Braga, with the 24-year-old subsequently impressing in the Greek capital.

Over the course of the campaign, Alef has become an important figure in midfield for AEK, standing out with his excellent technical ability and gaining the full trust of head coach Marinos Ouzounidis. As a result, AEK are hoping to keep Alef beyond the 2018/2019 season, and the Enosis are set to negotiate a fee with Braga which is cheaper than his release clause of 1.7 million.

So far, Alef has made 26 appearances for AEK across all competitions, contributing with two goals. Last season, the Brazilian competed as a loanee with Apollon Limassol in Cyprus.

MORAN JOINS MALAGA ON LOAN

In other news, midfielder Erik Moran departed AEK, leaving the Greeks for Malaga in the second tier of Spanish football on loan for the remainder of the 2018/2019 season.

Malaga also have an option to purchase Moran in the summer.

This season, 27-year-old Moran was largely on the fringes of the AEK team, only playing in four Super League matches while scoring the one goal in a Greek Cup victory over Volos NFC. Moran’s value is rated at 750,000 by Transfermarkt.

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: sport24.gr

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