Weekly Transfer Round-Up
Hi everyone, and happy end to the weirdest season we have ever lived. The pandemic season of 2020-2021 has come and gone, so it is now time for the summer championship: the transfer window. As someone who has read these rumors and newspapers for years, I have a decent sense of what is true and what isn't. For that reason, I have been assigned the transfer column. This column will be split into names that are hot and more likely to come in. Names that are just being thrown out there by the media, but good to know. And finally, names of players at the club who are linked to leave.
Names of the Week… Who’s Coming in?
Tiquinho Soares
The name of the past few weeks has been former Porto striker Tiquinho Soares. The player has recently been let go on a free by a Chinese club due to financial troubles. Soares is reportedly looking to return to Europe in some capacity, with clubs from all around the continent looking to sign the player. Olympiakos has a decent chance at this one, with Soares having formed a strong partnership with Pedro Martins at Guimaraes. This transfer is nowhere near a sure thing, but this is a strong one. I have a feeling this column will have more on Soares as we move closer to preseason.
Dimitris Pinakas
The young Greek U-21 international who took the league by storm last season is now an official target of Olympiakos. Alexis Kougias and relegated AEL are demanding close to 1.5 million euros plus a 15% resell clause. This transfer seemed to have been done according to the notoriously poor newspaper Sportime. However, as the day moved on, it became clear that nothing concrete has yet to be agreed upon. With that being said, this one seems more about time than anything else. Pinakas is very likely to be the next young Greek prospect to wear the red and white. Expect official movement in the next few weeks.
George-Kevin Nkoudou
I am not exactly thrilled to be writing this name down, as it is one that we know pretty well in Piraeus. George-Kevin Nkoudou, the French failed wonderkid of Tottenham, is being linked for a switch from Turkey to Greece. The 26-year-old is coming off of a decent season with Besiktas, but the link begs the question: is this the winger we want? I don't think any of us would be excited by this one. I expect his name to be in the papers throughout the whole summer. Does that mean he is close to signing? No, not really. But the club definitely likes the player. Let’s see what happens, but this is not the bam that we want.
Carlos Junior
A name that has blown up in the press after the cup final has been 25-year-old Santa Clara winger Carlos Junior. The player has had a fantastic championship for the Portuguese club and is being heavily linked with a big move. Like usual, the Portuguese giants are lurking, but Olympiakos is looking at putting in a 4 million euro bid. This type of move is something we have seen Olympiakos do and pull off multiple times, whether it is Pepe or Oleg. However, we have also failed in other times, such as Zaidu. Signing a player from Portugal away from the top clubs will be difficult. If Olympiakos has the chance, this player may be worth it. The ceiling is much higher than that of a Bruma, Nkoudou, or Gary Rodrigues. This will be a complicated deal for sure. Expect movement from both the Portuguese teams and us in the coming weeks.
The Best of the Rest
In this section, I will list names that are in the newspapers. These players are linked and have not had what I would consider concrete links. To begin, the legendary Italian goalkeeper Gigi Buffon is still linked, but we're not clear how strongly. Mario Lemina, the Gabonese international of relegated team Fulham, has also had his name mentioned recently. Another winger from the Turkish league Sofiane Feghouli has had his name mentioned, but it seems he is set to sign a new contract with Gala. A new name that has popped up this morning is that of French defender Andrew Gravillon. This is a brand new one and maybe more concrete than the other names on this list, but it's too soon to say. One last name to close up this section is that of Swiss International Pajtim Kasami! The Basel player has come to Greece for vacation and is reportedly open to a scenario of coming home… This one could get interesting very fast, and I'll keep my eyes out for it. This is a name that could be added to the main list very soon.
Leaving… Who?!
Bruma
You read that right, and I know you're happy too. Bruma is set to leave our team and return to Eindhoven. The club is not paying his steep release clause and is saying its goodbyes to one of the most frustrating players the club has seen in a few years. Good luck, Bruma, and goodbye.
Kostas Fortounis
It pains me to write this name, but stories are flying around about the interest of teams in Turkey and the Middle East. The sources on these stories are weak, to say the least, but these stories are picking up steam. With the player not playing extensively this season, it has to be said that he is a candidate to leave.
Semedo and Sa
The two Portuguese internationals have been left out of Fernando Santos' squad for the European Championships and may feel the need to move to get into the squad. There is reported interest from the Italian capital, but there are sure to be many other clubs looking to swoop in.
Mady Camara
We haven't heard the names of any clubs, but the player essentially posted a goodbye message on his Instagram. Expect his name to heat up in the newspapers in the coming days to weeks. We have probably seen Mady Camara wear red and white for the last time.
Pepe Rodrigues
The Portuguese flop from the beginning of this season looks like he has had a tremendous second half of the season in Portugal! Sporting Lisbon is reportedly interested in bringing the player in. Pedro Martins will want to see what the player can do with preseason training, but he has built his name up in his home country. If a substantial offer is made, a decision will have to be made.