Savvidis makes new capital share increase with PAOK
Ivan Savvidis has made a new capital share increase in PAOK, while the management continue working on keeping the core of the team together for the 2019/2020 season.
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Earlier this week, it was confirmed that PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis has decided to inject an extra 15.2 million euros into the club. Since he acquired ownership of PAOK in 2012, the Greek-Russian businessman has put a grand total of 120 million into the organisation, with the Dikefalos tou Vorra having rapidly progressed under his leadership.
In recent years, PAOK have begun to dominate Greek football, winning three consecutive Greek Cups and the 2018/2019 Super League. This season, PAOK became only the second Hellenic club in history to win the domestic championship without losing a single game, before they defeated AEK in the final of the Greek Cup in the third successive season to complete an historic double.
Savvidis’ next goal is leading PAOK to the UEFA Champions League group stages this summer. PAOK join the competition in the third qualifying round.
SHAKHOV HAS CHANGE OF HEART, CANAS PREDICTED TO STAY TOO
Recently, PAOK managed to keep Fernando Varela on their books after it initially appeared he was leaving, and they are now hoping to maintain the services of Ukrainian midfielder Yevhen Shakhov.
Shakhov, who is out of contract this summer, declined PAOK’s first offer. However, having not found a club willing to pay him more money, the 28-year-old midfielder seems to have changed his mind and is now eager to remain in Thessaloniki. PAOK head coach, Razvan Lucescu, asked the management to persuade Shakhov to stay.
In the second half of the season, Shakhov held an important role for PAOK, scoring a number of important goals. Shakhov made 40 appearances across all competitions, contributing with five goals and two assists from midfield.
Shakhov has been playing his football with PAOK since transferring from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in July 2016.
Fellow midfielder Jose Canas is also expected to stay at PAOK. Just like Shakhov, his contract with the Dikefalos tou Vorra expires this June, however the 32-year-old Spanish defensive midfielder is close to striking a deal with PAOK to prolong their agreement. Canas scored twice in 27 matches in the successful 2018/2019 season.
SILVA TRANSFER STILL ON
It seemed the link with Ismael Silva had gone cold, but new reports have hinted that the Brazilian defensive midfielder is edging closer to a PAOK transfer.
PAOK were put off by Akhmat Grozny’s asking price, but with the Chechens reducing their demands, the newly crowned Greek champions are looking to complete the transfer as soon as possible. Silva’s value is rated at 2.5 million by Transfermarkt.
In the 2018/2019 season, Silva competed in a combined 30 matches for Akhmat Grozny in the Russian Premier League and the Russian Cup, popping up with two goals and five assists. The versatile midfielder joined Akhmat in August 2017 from Kalmar FF.
STADIUM ISSUE CONTINUES
Originally, PAOK were due to transfer to the Kaftanzoglio Stadium in time for the 2019/2020 season with the Toumba Stadium set to be reconstructed, but several problems are continuing to prevent that from happening.
Until obligatory improvements to the Kaftanzoglio Stadium are made, the arena will not be available to host UEFA competition matches. PAOK will begin their Champions League campaign in August.
All legal sides are working in order to solve the stadium issue in the near future. PAOK are unhappy that the Votanikos project (Panathinaikos) and the new AEK BC arena seem to have been given priority by the Greek government.
The Kaftanzoglio Stadium boasts a capacity of around 27,000.
