Bouzoukis future under a cloud as uncertainty builds



Uncertainty builds around the future of Giannis Bouzoukis at Panathinaikos, as others look set to depart. A new T.V. rights deal is in the pipeline while a friendly against Turkish club Besiktas is confirmed.

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Bouzoukis’ Future

The future of talented young midfielder Giannis Bouzoukis has continued to drag on over the past month as a solution is still further away than ever. Bouzoukis failed to give the club an answer by the June deadline that was imposed, and as a result uncertainty has risen. In fact, the scheduled talks have not even taken place.

Bouzoukis has made it no secret that he wishes to remain at Panathinaikos for at least another season, but the issue lies in the value of the contract at present. Reports vary, but they suggest Bouzoukis is seeking at least 130,000 euros per season on a fresh seal. On the other hand, the Greens are presently offering 95,000 euros. The Trifylli could well lose their brightest prospect in years for as little as 35,000 euros (such is the dire financial situation at the club)!

Undoubtedly his value will continue to rise should he pick up from where he left off last season, and he looms as a valuable asset as he is only 21-years-old. The Greens have sold previous key players such as Carlos Zeca, Odisseas Vlachodimos, Rodrigo Moledo, Marcus Berg, and Lucas Villafanez during the tough times in order to stay afloat.

It is worth noting that Bouzoukis’ current contract runs until the summer of 2020, meaning that he has another season to go. However, getting him to pen a new deal is vital for Panathinaikos as rivals clubs could pick him up for free in a year’s time.

Departures Set to Continue as Altman Leaves

Tasos Chatzigiovanis is another youngster who is out of contract in the summer of 2020. It was thought the club was prepared to sell him should the right offer come in, but talks are ongoing at this stage. In this instance, an agreement may not happen at all and the player may remain at the club and let his contract run down (the case of Bouzoukis is similar).

Omri Altman is on the verge of ending his contract with Panathinaikos after a two-year stay. It appears he will rejoin his old club Hapoel Tel Aviv, who he played for between 2015-2017. It had been known for some time that the 25-year-old was not in Giorgos Donis’ plans moving forward as he struggled to impose himself after coming back from a nasty ACL injury the season before last.

Fanis Tzandaris is another who has been on the outer at the Trifylli for some time. The central midfielder is set to depart on a free transfer in search of more playing time in the next stage of his career.

Another midfielder in young Paschalis Staikos could also be headed for the exit at Koropi, but only in a potential loan move. Last season he had to compete with the likes of Christos Donis, Ergys Kace, and Tzandaris for a spot alongside Dimitris Kourbelis. He still has age on his side but is looking to receive regular playing time.

Other players not in Donis’ plans for the new season and will be in search of a new club this offseason include: Pantelakis, Armenakas, Oikonomou, Mounier, Triantafyllopoulos, Aggelopoulos, Sifnaios, Dimitroulas, and Chantzaras.

Renewals Update

Locking down key youngsters such as Bouzoukis and Chatzigiovanis is the top priority due to their age and potential ‘ceiling’. In other words, what they can earn the club later down the track after proving themselves, in conjunction with a long-term contract that would make potential suitors pay more to acquire them.

Fanis Mavromatis, Dimitris Emmanouilidis and Vangelis Theocharis have already agreed to contract extensions. Emanuel Insua is another who has been targeted for a new contract.

New T.V. Rights Deal

Negotiations have taken place but an agreement has not yet been reached in relation to a new T.V. rights deal for Panathinaikos. Last season’s deal with ERT brought in a much-needed 4.2 million euros, and even though the club had more time to run on the current deal with the state-owned ERT, there is a high probability that it will be broken to return to NOVA. A decision is expected within the next 10 days.

The uncertainty surrounding ERT and the subsequent role it will play in the Greek football landscape with the upcoming elections is a factor for the delay on the ERT front. NOVA appears to have taken advantage of this and has made a better offer to Panathinaikos.

Friendly Confirmed

Panathinaikos will face Turkish giants Besiktas on the 10th of August at 8 pm at the OAKA Stadium in Athens. This will provide the Greens with a stern test ahead of the new season as their opponents finished third last season and booked their spot in the group stages of the UEFA Europa League.