Olympiacos cancel Willian Arao deal, Markovic link intensifies
Brazilian midfielder Willian Arao was on the verge of joining Olympiacos, but in the final stages of negotiations, the Thrylos have pulled the plug. AGONAsport investigates further.
According to various reports, Olympiacos and Flamengo had reached an agreement for the transfer of 25-year old Brazilian defensive midfielder Willian Arao, with the Piraeus outfit prepared to pay 2.5 million euros. However, at the last minute, the move has been called off.
The main reason behind the surprising news is the awkwardness of Arao’s management team. In recent days, they began constantly changing their demands when in conversation with the Erythrolefkoi, something which persuaded Olympiacos to stay clear of Arao. His market value is rated at 3.5 million on Transfermarkt.
MARKOVIC SIGNING CLOSE
On the other hand, the Thrylos are close to securing the services of talented Serbian attacking midfielder Lazar Markovic, who is still under contract at Liverpool. The 24-year old was snapped up by the English giants in 2014, but he failed to make the grade in the Premier League and was subsequently sent out on loan to Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon, Hull City and Anderlecht.
In England, the media are suggesting that Liverpool have agreed to sell Markovic to Olympiacos on a permanent transfer this summer. At the moment, Markovic is with the Liverpool team in the USA, however Olympiacos are due to complete the deal in the near future if everything goes to plan. Markovic has made 22 appearances for the senior Serbian national team and boasts bags of potential.
MIRANDA ALREADY TIPPED TO LEAVE
Remember when Roderick Miranda joined Olympiacos 17 days ago? Well, the Portuguese centre-back might already be in the process of packing his bags. In the pre-season friendlies, the 27-year old has not impressed boss Pedro Martins, committing a number of sloppy errors against Sint-Truiden and PSV Eindhoven. Olympiacos are not satisfied with his application and are considering sending him back to parent club Wolverhampton before the season has even started.
NIKOLAOU ON HIS WAY TO UDINESE
Another defender leaving is 19-year old prospect Dimitris Nikolaou. Unlikely to receive regular playing time in the 2018/2019 campaign, Nikolaou is on his way to Serie A club Udinese, where he will play on loan for a year. In 2019, the Italians will have the option to purchase Nikolaou outright.
Still a teenager, the centre-back competed in nine Super League matches with Olympiacos in the 2017/2018 season, and he did contribute with a goal against Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the UEFA Champions League.
Elsewhere, the club have withdrawn interest in Braga’s Ahmed Hassan and Nikola Vukcevic, but 25-year old Tunisian defender Yassine Meriah will fly to Athens on Monday to pen a four-year contract with Olympiacos after CS Sfaxien agreed to let him go for 1.8 million.
