I'd be surprised if he wanted to come here. I'd be even more surprised if he wanted to come here to be back up to King Ken.
A chance to play under a highly regarded coach with whom he has a pre-existing relationship, a big pay rise and potentially, if everything goes according to plan, the chance to be a premier league player next season. There are attractive elements to the move. Of course, he may have more attractive options. Don’t think he’d come in as a backup to Sema. Sema’s a versatile player. If we play with a front three (either 5-2-3 or 4-3-3), Sema will be competing with Pedro for that LW spot. We’re quite light on the wings. And then he’ll fill in at LWB too with fixtures coming thick and fast.
A while ago now, but I seem to remember Shittu refusing to stay with us after relegation unless we continued to honor his wage without the reduction clause.
King Ken is a very versatile player, and I'm not sure if I am right, but did he not play in CMF role for Udinese at least part of last season? Therefore bringing in this Greek guy could free Ken to play in a more central role and help to plug a possible gap in our CMF.
He did well in that position. He can play LWB, CM and wide on either side in a more attacking position. I think we need another LWB.
Kens been excellent at LWB. Why do we want to drop him for a season sitting on the bench behind Pedro?
Played twice under Ivic, including his debut for PAOK. Was coming through the PAOK youth system during Ivic’s time there so they’ll be familiar with one another.
Unlikely to happen but it seems a lot of the destinations mooted for Giannoulis earlier in the window are drying up. Atalanta signed an LB last week. Rennes closing in on former Watford target Dalbert. Marseille have Nagatomo on a free. Newcastle who were heavily linked at one point of course signed Lewis. So that leaves just us and Saint-Etienne of the clubs linked. Saint-Etienne have two decent LBs and were going to be selling one of them (Miguel Trauco) and were looking to bring Giannoulis in as a replacement. Hard to tell if they’re still interested but they’ll have enough cash after selling their young CB Fofana to Leicester.
Stranger things have happened. I reckon it's the perfect move for him. Showcase himself in England, if we don't get promoted and he's proved himself he will undoubtedly have suitors for next season.
I see you conveniently edited out the part of my part where I described the move as “unlikely to happen.” Must have missed it. Only the first three words. I don’t know if he’ll come. We’ve had a journalist in Greece and Leventhal both confirm he’s a target. It seems like his club might need cash and want to cash in on him and that a lot of the other (higher profile) suitors have moved on. We could offer him a big pay rise. As @Carpster points out, it’s an opportunity to showcase himself in the Championship which can easily lead to a Prem move if we don’t go up or we could go up. He was developed and given his senior debut by Ivic. Of course, I would love for this to happen. Would be a cracking signing. It is unlikely. But there are lots of reasons why it could happen.
Me too. Not even a hint of a link to him since early September but that's not going to deter forum members eagerly watching his every performance and trying to work out if he wants to come to the Championship #getitdoneGino #announcethisbloke
Well the links in early September said that he wouldn’t be on the market until PAOK’s Champions League qualifying campaign was resolved. Which it was, yesterday.
But his name was linked a long time ago wasn’t it? Is there newer stories about it? Also, I think the biggest reason he’s unlikely to come is that they want £5m+ don’t they according to reports? Cant see us paying that for any player really in this market. Certainly not one who has a decent player of competition (Sema) already in the squad.
See my comment above re PAOK and the Champions League. Think you’re right about the fee thing. Leventhal said similar at one point re Giannoulis. But I also am not sure the club were planning on selling both Estupinan and Suarez so they might have a little more cash to spare than anticipated.
At the same time they were probably expecting to sell Deeney, Deulofeu, Welbeck, Capoue, Pereyra (to a club that wasn't Udinese) and Pussetto so I'd be surprised if they spend any money at this point.
I think that’s quite clear. There are lots of things that are unlikely but could happen for lots of reasons. That’s how probabilities work. Take Trump getting re-elected. Or Leicester beating City last week: unlikely because City are really good, but Vardy is a very good player and City’s best defender was out so...
They have. Sources reveal talk is rife on wfcforums and we're now only days away from lazy hacks cobbling hat together into an article on some lesser-known football rumours website.
It’s reasonable to observe that the changing sporting and financial situation of a supposed target’s club (as a result of not qualifying for the Champions League last night) may have some impact on whether he comes through the door. Particularly if that club has briefed journalists in their country saying that the player will stay until the qualification campaign is completed and only then will a departure be contemplated. Obviously it would be a big coup if he comes in which is, of course, unlikely. But this does seem like the kind of detail that should be shared on a player’s transfer rumour thread. Leventhal has previously and repeatedly reported our interest in Giannoulis in a couple of his articles and Q and As and I think on FTRE also. But not too recently though.
@LeedsOrn @Carpster . T'was just took the opportunity to use the name of 2 St Etienne songs which i assume @Burnsy picked up on being in the music industry.....
