Over a dozen Panathinaikos players facing uncertain futures

Nick Tsambouniaris assesses the uncertain playing futures of over a dozen Panathinaikos players heading into the summer.

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Recent reports indicate that up to 13 Panathinaikos players face an uncertain playing future heading into the summer. It is worth noting this figure includes current players owned by the club that are out on loan, others who have yet to agree to terms to remain at the club, and others who were recently recruited in January on loan.

Most people focus only on new signings in the transfer market, but signing existing key first-team players is also vital to any team’s success. Panathinaikos are currently in negotiations with numerous players. Not all 13 players will leave, but it is expected that some considered surplus to requirements will be released.

Loanees signed this season

Dominik Nagy and Anuar Tuhami were signed in the January transfer window with Xavi Roca calling the shots. The duo has impressed; Anuar to begin with, and now Nagy has entrenched himself in the side, becoming the first choice winger. Ghayas Zahid emerged as the team’s talisman, playing as a roaming attacking midfielder in the hole behind the strikers.

The case of Nagy remains difficult for Panathinaikos as the Hungarian’s contract would exceed 800,000 EUR (something the Greens cannot match). The club would find a capable replacement on much less money.

The prospects of Anuar staying in Athens look increasingly likely as his contract with Real Valladolid expires in 2023, and at the very least, his loan can be extended to include next season.

Zahid wants to stay at Panathinaikos, and the club wants to keep him, but the sticking point is the 1.6 million EUR release clause. On top of this, Marinos Ouzounidis will want to keep him at APOEL, and the Cypriots are notoriously tough negotiators.

Current permanent players

Panathinaikos have done a good job acting swiftly to keep vital players. The Trifylli extended the respective contracts of Dimitris Kourbelis, Tasos Chatzigiovanis, Sokratis Dioudis, and Bart Schenkeveld. However, there are still five more contracts currently up in the air.

Out of the five, only one looks likely to end in an extension agreement. This is the case of teenage sensation Giorgos Vagiannidis. The young and highly talented right-back will reportedly reject offers from abroad (Monaco) and other clubs within Greece (PAOK and Olympiacos), to stay at Panathinaikos. The club cannot afford to lose Vagiannidis, who wants to stay, as Mattias Johansson and Kostas Apostolakis edge closer towards an exit. Losing all three would mean there are no right-backs in the squad. Apostolakis is reportedly in negotiations with APOEL.

Conversely, the futures of Emanuel Insua, Mattias Johansson, and Christos Donis currently remain uncertain. It is highly unlikely that Insua will stay at Panathinaikos beyond this summer as the club cannot meet his wage demands. In an ideal world, he would stay, but it is virtually impossible. He has played very well for Panathinaikos throughout his stint. 

Christos Donis would prefer to stay. Johansson looks like leaving for another club overseas; the only way he would stay is if no club from abroad signs him and Panathinaikos increase their existing offer. Giannis Alafouzos will look to intervene in these types of cases, where the club wants to keep players.

The rest

Federico Macheda has a contract running until the summer of 2021, but he has attracted interest from clubs in the Middle East and Turkey. These clubs would be able to offer more money than Panathinaikos, should the player himself want to leave. Selling him this summer would mean the club obtains a fee, as opposed to keeping him and letting him go for free potentially in 2021. Carlitos is a very similar player as well. Panathinaikos want to keep him, and the Italian appears settled at the moment.

The incoming arrival of Fran Velez could signal the end of Joao Nunes, Dimitris Kolovetsios, or Fanis Mavromatis, who will fall further down the centre-back pecking order.

The striker situation is an interesting one at Panathinaikos as Argiris Kampetsis is another who has had a tumultuous season to date, but Giorgos Donis prefers him over Nikos Vergos.

Vangelis Theocharis has struggled to make the first team and could look for a move away in a bid to receive more playing time. Yohan Mollo is currently out on loan in the French second tier and is surplus to requirements at the Trifylli. Fausto Tienza is in the same boat and is out on loan in the third division in Spain. The same applies to Uffe Bech and Dimitris Kolovos, as the duo have severely failed to deliver this season. Kolovos arrived with big hype but initially struggled before even failing to make the matchday squad on most occasions. His contract ends in 2022, so it will be hard to move him on.

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