Plenty of transfer uncertainty for AEK
In the closing stages of the campaign, AEK have made a large improvement under the guidance of Manolo Jimenez, but they face uncertainty in the summer with important players possibly heading towards the exit door.
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AEK have managed to save the season from becoming a total disaster. Yes, the capital club won’t be in the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League, but the Kitrinomavri are in a comfortable third place of the Super League and have a chance to claim silverware in the Greek Cup. In the off-season, AEK will have tough financial decisions to make concerning loanees and transfer targets, so let’s take a closer look at their roster situation ahead of the next campaign:
ARAUJO RETURN
AEK fans are still dreaming of Sergio Araujo making another hero’s return. After helping AEK win the 2017/2018 Super League, the popular Argentinian forward was re-called by parent club Las Palmas, but he’s endured a poor season in Spain. In 19 appearances, Araujo has only scored three goals and made two assists, and he is currently on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.
In an interview with gazzetta.gr, Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramirez spoke about Araujo’s availability: “Just like any other Las Palmas player, Araujo can be sold, but the price must be right. I will sell a player if the offer satisfies me. If it doesn’t, the player will remain at Las Palmas. That is the situation.
Araujo renewed his contract last summer. Personally, I see it practically impossible for any Greek club to purchase Araujo, and I’m not willing to discuss a loan either. Would we be prepared to sell 50% of his rights to AEK? No. Either 100%, or no transfer.”
Alongside AEK, teams from Saudi Arabia, China and the USA are interested in Araujo, and a bid of seven million euros from an MLS club has been rejected by Las Palmas.
A lot will also depend on Araujo’s personal preference. In the event he starts to apply pressure on the Las Palmas management to let him move to AEK, an opportunity could arise for the Kitrinomavri, and the Greeks are keen on signing Araujo in the summer as a possible replacement for Ezequiel Ponce.
PONCE UNLIKELY TO STAY
The fate of fellow Argentinian striker Ezequiel Ponce is hanging in the balance. On loan from AS Roma, the 22-year-old has registered 19 goals and three assists with AEK, firing the club to third place of the Super League table and to within one game of the Greek Cup final. His goal in the first leg of the semi-final against Lamia set AEK on their way to a 2:0 win with the second game to come.
Finally, AEK have found their long awaited prolific forward, but there’s bad news - Ponce is unlikely to stay in Athens. Ponce supposedly only sees AEK as a stepping stone in his career, and next season, he would like to play in a stronger championship. Recent rumours have stated that AEK might even include Vasilis Barkas in a deal to sign Ponce from Roma, but if the player doesn’t want to sign for the Kitrinomavri, the transfer won’t happen regardless. AEK had trouble persuading Ponce to move on loan to Greece in the summer of 2018.
Last week, stories appeared in the Greek media revealing that PAOK have joined the race to sign Ponce in the summer, and the Thessaloniki club would be in the position to offer the Argentinian forward more money. Nevertheless, due to the fact PAOK already have Chuba Akpom and Karol Swiderski as their main two strikers, it doesn’t appear likely Ponce would be in favour of transferring to Thessaloniki. If Ponce was to remain in Greece, he wants to be the starting forward for the team.
Boca Juniors have emerged as a candidate to loan Ponce for the 2019/2020 season.
BOYE FUTURE IN THE BALANCE, ALEF TO LEAVE
The loan signing of winger Lucas Boye from Torino has largely been a disappointment. Blessed with superb technical ability, Boye boasts plenty of potential, but he has struggled in Athens. When he joined on loan in 2018, the 23-year-old penned a provisional contract through to 2022 with AEK, but it would only be activated if the Enosis activated his release clause of six million. AEK aren’t going to pay that amount of money, but after Boye scored in three successive Super League games against Panetolikos, Xanthi and Lamia in April, the Enosis are thinking of entering in negotiations with Torino to purchase the player for less money.
In August 2018, Boye received an abdominal injury while warming up for a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Celtic in Scotland, and he subsequently spent almost two months on the sidelines. Since returning, Boye has shown glimpses of his undoubted talent, but he hasn’t been consistent. Boye has tallied six goals and two assists in 32 AEK matches across all tournaments. The Argentinian is being linked with a move back to his home country with Estudiantes.
Alef isn’t expected to stay. AEK would like to keep the 24-year-old defensive midfielder, but according to reports from SDNA, they won’t activate his Braga release clause due to the fee being too high. For their part, Braga aren’t prepared to accept any low offers for Alef, and they want to give the Brazilian a chance in Portugal. All signs are pointing towards Alef returning to Braga in the summer and for the Portuguese club to hand him an opportunity.
DELETIC AND ATHANASIADIS TO ARRIVE
In Greece, it’s been known for quite some time that versatile 25-year-old Serbian winger Milos Deletic will join AEK on a free transfer from AEL in the summer transfer window, and goalkeeper Giorgos Athanasiadis is also set to pen a deal with AEK. In June, Athanasiadis’ contract with Asteras Tripolis will expire, and he’s predicted to be snapped up by AEK.
Athanasiadis will probably be signed as a replacement for Vasilis Barkas. As yet, AEK haven’t received any direct offers for the promising goalkeeper, but the Enosis will accept any bid which exceeds five million. Barkas, a Greek international, is under contract at AEK until 2022 and has been team’s starting goalkeeper throughout the entire season. AEK are hoping to cash in on Barkas this year.
NEW DEFENDERS NEEDED, SABANADZOVIC TRAVELLING FROM BOSNIA
A major transfer goal for AEK in the summer is acquiring at least one central defender. Vasilis Lampropoulos, ostracized from the team since November after a contract spat, is predicted to leave on a free this summer, while cover is required for Marios Oikonomou, Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Uros Cosic and Stratos Svarnas. 32-year-old Ukrainian defender Chygrynskiy is particularly injury prone.
Bosnian midfielder Anel Sabanadzovic, son of famous AEK player Refik Sabanadzovic, will transfer from Zeljeznicar for the 2019/2020 season. In January, an agreement was struck with Zeljeznicar for 19-year-old prospect Sabanadzovic to play on loan in Bosnia for the remainder of the 2018/2019 season before joining AEK in the summer, and he will be given a chance to display his capabilities in the training camps.
The futures of fellow loanees Erik Moran (Malaga), Giorgos Giakoumakis (OFI), Stavros Vasilantopoulos (Lamia), Paris Bampis (Apollon Pontou), Ilias Tselios (Ergotelis), Andreas Vlachomitros (Aiginiakos) and Christos Antoniou (Diagoros Rodou) are not yet known.
AEK are supposedly interested in acquiring Swedish midfielders Alexander Fransson and Simon Thern from Allsvenskan side IFK Norrkoping. More rumours will appear as the summer approaches.
PRE-SEASON TRAINING TO BEGIN ON JUNE 27
Assuming AEK finish in third place of the Super League, the Kitrinomavri will begin their pre-season preparations on June 27, with the club set to participate in the third qualifying round of the 2019/2020 UEFA Europa League which will be held in the first half of August.
