Panathinaikos looking to build by keeping a core group of young players

Panathinaikos will look to build next season by keeping a host of talented youngsters, amid Benfica’s interest for Bouzoukis. AGONAsport investigates.

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Young trio will definitely not be sold

As the 2018/19 Greek Super League season edges to an end and Panathinaikos have begun to turn their attention onto next season and beyond. They look to continue to head in the right direction under the stability fostered by Giorgos Donis and a core group of young guns, who have the potential to become iconic players for the club.

Regardless of any offers, the trio of Giannis Bouzoukis, Tasos Chatzigiovannis, and Theofanis Mavromatis will definitely remain at the club. For two out of these three (Bouzoukis and Mavromatis), it is their first season in men’s football and both have illustrated they have the talent and mental fortitude to succeed.

Generally speaking, Panathinaikos will not be looking to sell any player who has played a leading role this season, but the primary focus is on the aforementioned trio. Captain and talisman Dimitris Kourbelis is the other player the Greens will be looking to hold onto. Over the last few years, he has emerged as a star and a pillar of strength during tough times. This has been reinforced by his regular selection in the Ethniki starting sides.

Bouzoukis interest from PAOK and abroad

As mentioned, Bouzoukis will stay with the Trifylli, but this has not stopped rival clubs such as champions-elect PAOK from expressing an interest in the talented young midfielder. The Thessaloniki club is also still monitoring the progress of Kourbelis (who they came very close to signing just over a year ago).

Key players would only be sold should the financial situation at the club become even more dire, but the preference of technical director Nikos Dabizas in such a scenario, would be to sell to overseas clubs. This means a move to PAOK or any other Greek club is totally off the radar.

In recent days, Portuguese giants Benfica have reportedly expressed an interest and look set to make a 2 million euro bid for Bouzoukis, who is one of the most sought after young Greek footballers. However, Panathinaikos would be demanding at least double, with reports suggesting the Greens would not consider anything below five million euros.

Benfica have a long association with Greek footballers, most notably signing former Panathinaikos trio Giorgos Karagounis, Kostas Katsouranis, Takis Fyssas, and others such as Kostas Mitroglou and Andreas Samaris. Ex-Panathinaikos goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos has impressed in his first season at the club, domestically and in the UEFA Champions League. This led to his call up into the Ethniki where he now holds the number one position.

However, in the case of Bouzoukis, it looks very unlikely. His salary looks set to exceed 90,000 euros (through bonuses as it was around 40,000 euroa). His current Panathinaikos contract runs until 2020, but the club will be looking to offer him a fresh deal worth 150,000 euros per season.

Budget increased and licence issue settled

Due to the new contracts handed out to several players, the club’s budget will rise for the 2019/20 season as they seek to return to the top of Greek football after a few lean years. For instance, Dimitris Kolovetsios was handed a new contract which saw his salary rise to 200,000 euros from 140,000 euros. A three million euro price tag has also been slumped on him. On top of this, Panos Armenakas’ contract is 60,000 euros.

Fresh deals will be given to Bouzoukis, Chatzigiovannis, Mavromatis, and Kourbelis. The latter will see his salary drastically rise from the current 270,000 euros per season he is on.

Anthony Mounier looks set to be released at the end of this season as the Frenchman has struggled to stay fit in his second season in Greece. The club will be looking to reinvest his relatively large salary on the youngsters, and his age goes against the direction the club is looking to head in. Meanwhile, the future of Ousmane Coulibaly remains unclear beyond this season.

Once again, the team will not have the motivation of playing for a spot in European football as they would still be banned even if they clinch a top five spot next season, but Donis and Dabizas will be looking at the bigger, overall picture.

In positive news, Panathinaikos will have no issue obtaining a licence to participate in next season’s Championship. As tipped, the club settled all outstanding debts within the requisite timeframe. This did not happen last season which resulted in the Trifylli starting on -6 this season. Giannis Alafouzos paid all the debt to past players and coaches such as Lautaro Rinaldi and Andrea Stramaccioni, which has plugged the last remaining holes.

Holland looms as location for pre-season training camp

The club has confirmed pre-season preparations will commence on the 15th of July. Just like last season, Donis will take the squad to the Netherlands, notably Ostende, to prepare for the new season.

by Nick Tsambouniaris

Image Source: to10.gr

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