Vranjes to return for Aris game
Recent reports have indicated that Ognjen Vranjes will return to the AEK team for the upcoming Super League match against Aris, while the club have been linked with Amato Ciciretti and interest in Vasilis Barkas increases.
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Vranjes, who never seems to be far away from the headlines, was initially banned for a month by the AEK management because of his behaviour on social media following the derby loss to Olympiacos in late October. Since that incident, AEK have continued to concede goals with alarming regularity, notably losing 3-2 to Panathinaikos last week after surrendering a two-goal lead. Fellow centre-backs Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Marios Oikonomou and Stratos Svarnas have all been far from reliable.
Reports have now suggested that Vranjes will return to the AEK team for the upcoming home game against Aris in the Super League on November 24.
According to the media, AEK boss Nikos Kostenoglou informed the group that certain matters were to be left in the past, with Vranjes now eligible for action again after missing the games against Atromitos and Panathinaikos due to his suspension. Vranjes also had to pay a large fine.
The 30-year-old has made a grand total of 10 appearances for AEK across all competitions this season, scoring the one goal. The controversial Bosnian defender is on loan from Anderlecht until the completion of the 2019/2020 campaign.
TANKOVIC, CICIRETTI LINKS
Muamer Tankovic, a Swedish striker playing for Hammarby in the Allsvenskan, is reportedly a transfer priority for AEK.
Tankovic’s contract Hammarby will expire in June 2020. In an ideal world, AEK would like to sign the 24-year-old in the winter transfer period, but the Enosi will wait until the season ends if they cannot come to a financial agreement with the Swedish club.
Born in Hageby, Tankovic is capable of playing either on the left wing or in a more central role. He registered 14 goals and eight assists in the 2019 Allsvenskan.
AEK have also been linked with Italian forward Amato Ciciretti in the last few weeks.
Ciciretti, 25, is currently on the books of Napoli in Serie A. However, the versatile winger is yet to play in a single senior game for the Italian giants this season, only competing in the one Primavera match. Ciciretti had spent the 2018/2019 season on loan at Ascoli where he scored two goals and dished out three assists in 12 Serie B games.
AEK are now considering loaning Ciciretti in the winter for the rest of the 2019/2020 season. Technical director Ilija Ivic has allegedly received the green light from Napoli for this to happen.
INTEREST SHOWN IN BARKAS
In the summer, talented goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas saw his named linked with a range of European teams, and new reports in the media are now stating that AEK are willing to let him go if the price is right.
Ivic feels that this is the perfect time to cash in on Barkas, with clubs such as Montpellier, Celtic, AS Roma and a range of German teams all forming a queue for the Greek international. AEK had previously demanded almost 10 million for Barkas.
Barkas has conceded 13 goals and picked up five clean sheets in 11 matches in all competitions in the current campaign. Transfermarkt rates his value at three million euros.
MORAN TO LEAVE AFTER CONTRACT TERMINATION
Spanish midfielder Erik Moran is leaving AEK after the two parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
His deal with the Athens-based organisation was due to run until the end of the 2020/2021 season. Moran has sat on the sidelines since returning from a loan spell at Malaga.
The 28-year-old became a Super League champion with AEK in 2018. Apart from his time at AEK, Moran has always played his football in his native Spain.
