Lamprou extends contract to 2023, Koulouris attracting attention from France and Turkey
Following an impressive season with Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie, Lazaros Lamprou has been awarded a contract extension at PAOK, with the young winger set to remain in Thessaloniki until 2023.
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During the 2018/2019 season, Lamprou caught the eye on loan with Fortuna Sittard, registering seven goals and eight assists in the Eredivisie to help his club remain in the top flight. Lamprou has spent the last two years out on loan, but in the 2019/2020 campaign, it appears he will be given an opportunity to prove his worth with PAOK after he penned a contract through to 2023.
PAOK announced the news on Thursday with this following statement:
“PAOK FC announces the renewal of Lazaros Lamprou’s contract until June 2023. The Katerini-born attacker has a release clause of 10 million euros.
The loans have proved useful for young Greek international Lamprou, who has earned a return back to the Toumba Stadium.”
Lamprou initially signed for PAOK in January 2017 for 300 thousand from Iraklis. Since then, the gifted 21-year-old has played on loan at Panionios and Fortuna Sittard, standing out with his excellent technical ability and array of skills. Lamprou began his career in the Panathinaikos youth system.
Transfermarkt rates his value at two million.
OLIVEIRA LEAVING
In the second half of the 2018/2019 season, Portuguese midfielder Sergio Oliveira played on loan from FC Porto, but he won’t be staying in Thessaloniki any longer.
According to reports in the media, PAOK have held negotiations with Porto concerning the possibility of keeping Oliveira in Greece, however the asking price will not drop any lower than 10 million. PAOK aren’t willing to pay that kind of money for the 27-year-old and he will return to Portugal this summer.
After transferring to PAOK in the winter, Oliveira participated in 15 games across all tournaments, popping up with three goals in the Super League and helping the Dikefalos tou Vorra clinch the double. PAOK are continuing to search for new midfielders and wingers to bolster their squad, especially given the long-term injuries carried by Pontus Wernbloom and Mauricio.
KOULOURIS ATTRACTING ATTENTION
Despite earning the title of the Super League top scorer on loan at Atromitos, Efthymis Koulouris doesn’t seem to be in the plans of Razvan Lucescu for the 2019/2020 season, and the Greek international striker is wanted by both Toulouse and Fenerbahce.
If reports in the media are to believed, PAOK will only listen to offers exceeding five million for Koulouris, while the player himself would rather move to France instead of Turkey.
This season, Koulouris shone in Peristeri, netting 19 goals in the Super League with Atromitos clinching fourth spot of the standings. Koulouris’ PAOK contract runs until the summer of 2021.
Koulouris has played in eight matches for the senior Greek national team. His value is rated at five million by Transfermarkt.
BOURGANIS ARRIVING FROM VOLOS NFC
22-year-old goalkeeper Nikos Bourganis, who made six appearances in the 2018/2019 Football League as Volos NFC gained promotion, is set to be snapped up by PAOK.
It’s expected that Bourganis will be sent out on loan in order to gain first team experience before returning to PAOK in the future. Fellow goalkeeper Nikos Melissas, 26, will move back to PAOK this summer after spending the season as a loanee with PAS Lamia 1964 in the Super League. Rodrigo Rey, the back-up to Alexandros Paschalakis, has been loaned to Pachuca in Mexico.
CANAS WANTED BY RED STAR BELGRADE
Recent reports have also linked Spanish midfielder Jose Canas with a move to Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.
Canas has been playing his football in Thessaloniki since 2016, but with his contract expiring this year, he is yet to pen a new deal with PAOK. Red Star are attempting to seal the transfer before their training camp begins in Austria in the coming days.
In the 2018/2019 campaign, the 32-year-old midfielder participated in 27 matches for PAOK, scoring in the UEFA Champions League preliminary rounds and the Greek Cup. Canas has won the Greek Cup three times and the Super League once with PAOK.
