PAOK eager to keep Giannoulis despite reported interest

Ideally, PAOK certainly want to keep star left-back Dimitris Giannoulis in Thessaloniki beyond January, but reports are suggesting that teams from France and Russia are showing high interest.

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PAOK began the summer in rather unconvincing fashion, crashing out of Europe with disappointing defeats to Ajax and Slovan Bratislava. Nevertheless, the reigning Greek champions have been almost flawless in the Super League again, picking up 40 points in 16 games to boast a two-point lead over second-placed Olympiacos. PAOK are unbeaten in 51 consecutive league matches.

Let’s take a glance at their plans for the winter transfer window:

MISIC CLOSE TO PERMANENT PAOK DEAL

Reports in Portugal have stated that Josip Misic, 25, is on the verge of signing a permanent deal with PAOK from Sporting Lisbon.

Recently, A Bola published a report revealing that PAOK will pay Sporting two million euros for the services of Misic, with the Portuguese giants happy to offload the defensive midfielder. In January 2019, Misic joined PAOK on an 18-month loan deal from Sporting, and he subsequently impressed the management with his solid performances on the pitch. Misic has contributed with five goals and six assists in 18 matches across all competitions this season.

Transfermarkt rates the Croatian’s value at 2.5 million. 

GIANNOULIS IN DEMAND; STAFYLIDIS LINK

According to the latest reports, Karol Swiderski, Dimitris Limnios, Dimitris Giannoulis and Chuba Akpom are all attracting interest from foreign clubs, but PAOK aren’t willing to sell any of them. With head coach Abel Ferreira desperate to keep all of his key players, PAOK supremo Ivan Savvidis has made it clear that no one is for sale, and it will take a tasty bid to persuade the Greek-Russian businessman to sell.

Giannoulis is probably the most in-demand PAOK player. The left-back, who has stood out with his superb performances at both club and international level, is reportedly on the watchlist of Lokomotiv Moscow, Rennes and Spartak Moscow. A lucrative offer will force PAOK into selling the talented 24-year-old due to the fear of breaking UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.

His value is rated at 4.5 million by Transfermarkt.

In the event that Giannoulis does leave, Hoffenheim left-back Konstantinos Stafylidis is likely to be drafted in as a direct replacement.

Stafylidis, 26, is under contract at Hoffenheim until June 2023. However, the Greek defender has not been a first-team regular for the German outfit since joining in July, only participating in six Bundesliga games while often remaining on the bench. There is a large possibility that Thessaloniki-born Stafylidis will return to PAOK if Giannoulis is snapped up.

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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