PAOK close to signing Tosca from Real Betis
PAOK are on the verge of signing Romanian left-back Alin Tosca from Real Betis, while young forward Dimitris Limnios will supposedly pen a contract extension with the Dikefalos tou Vorra. AGONAsport investigates further.
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Recently, the media have suggested that PAOK will make a move for Romanian left-back Alin Tosca, and it seems that the rumour will soon turn into a reality. According to several reports, 26-year old Tosca arrived in Thessaloniki in order to complete move to PAOK from Real Betis, however it’s not known whether the Greeks will loan Tosca for the 2018/2019 campaign or pay Betis 1.3 million euros to purchase him on a permanent basis.
Since signing for Real Betis in January 2017, Tosca has struggled to make a name for himself in Spain, spending the previous campaign as a loanee at Italian side Benevento. Current PAOK coach Razvan Lucescu is familiar with Tosca’s potential and sees him as the solution for the club’s lack of depth in the left-back position. Today, Tosca will undergo his medical examinations with PAOK before the deal becomes official.
Born in the Romanian city of Alexandria, Tosca began his career with giants Steaua Bucharest, later playing for Unirea Urziceni, Sageata Navodar, Viitorul, Real Betis and Benevento. In the 2017/2018 campaign, he made 13 appearances in Serie A and he does boast six senior national team caps to his name.
NEW CONTRACT ON THE TABLE FOR LIMNIOS
Elsewhere, PAOK will reportedly soon be offering a new contract to 20-year old winger Dimitris Limnios, who has made a superb start to the season.
In the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, Limnios has stood out with his fantastic performances against Basel and Spartak Moscow, something which has persuaded PAOK to extend his contract through to 2022. PAOK are willing to increase Limnios’ wages by a large 50% and include a release clause of 15 million.
After the second leg of the Champions League playoff duel against Benfica, the matter is expected to tidied up with PAOK aware that European clubs could soon be making enquiries about Limnios’ availability.
MYSTAKIDIS JOINS PAS GIANNINA ON LOAN
On the departures front, 23-year old forward Giannis Mystakidis has officially teamed up with PAS Giannina for the upcoming season, transferring to the Ioannina club on loan. When returning from a serious injury in late 2017, Mystakidis didn’t earn the trust of boss Lucescu, being sent to Panathinaikos in January and now PAS. In the second half of the 2017/2018 season, he competed in six Super League games with Panathinaikos, not scoring a single goal. He will be hoping to get his career back on track with Ioannina.
Mystakidis shared his emotions from the loan: “I am very happy to play for PAS Giannina, I have special appreciation for this club and I will give my best to help the team win. I thank the organisation’s board and coaching staff for welcoming me here.”
MIHOJEVIC TO OFI, CHARISIS RETURNS TO BELGIUM
22-year old centre-back Marko Mihojevic only moved to PAOK in January 2018 from FK Sarajevo, but after failing to settle in Thessaloniki, the Bosnian will play on loan at OFI this season. Talented attacking midfielder Lazaros Lamprou is strongly linked with a transfer to Atromitos and Ukrainian clubs are displaying interest in Yevhen Shakhov.
Midfielder Charis Charisis renewed his PAOK contract to 2020, but at the same time, the Dikefalos tou Vorra bought him a plane ticket to Kortrijk where he will spend the 2018/2019 season. This will be the second consecutive year when Charisis has played his football in the Jupiler League after he was on the books of Sint Truiden in the 2017/2018 campaign.
