Football
Exclusive: Leeds United Reopen Talks for Greece Star Giannis Konstantelias
Leeds United, Sporting Lisbon, and German Bundesliga clubs are interested in signing PAOK midfielder Giannis Konstantelias. The 22-year-old has impressed internationally, scoring in the Greek Super League and Europa League. Other clubs like Chelsea and Barcelona are also monitoring his progress, with Leeds potentially making a move for him.
PAOK FC v BSC Young Boys - UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 by Milos Bicanski - UEFA | Getty Images
Premier League side Leeds United have reignited their interest in the services of exciting PAOK midfielder Giannis Konstantelias, with Portuguese Sporting Lisbon and a couple of German Bundesliga sides also alerted on his availability.
Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, the Greek's intermediary Lee Marsh confirmed talks were in place for the transfer of the 22-year-old, with Leeds and Sporting particularly keen last summer, while a move to the Bundesliga was not ruled out.
Since debuting for Greece in 2023, Giannis has 17 senior appearances under his belt on the international scene, and has earned rave reviews from even Sir Alex Ferguson when he starred against Scotland.
This season, he has dazzled in the Greek Super League for his title-chasing side, scoring six times including a brace last weekend in a 3-0 victory away to Panetolikos. With three more and two assists to go in the Europa League already, he has already demonstrated his qualities as a viable marksman in bountiful folds.
OTHER POTENTIAL SUITORS
VFB Stuttgart were on the brink of bringing Giannis to the Baden-Württemberg capital in the summer of 2025, a move which eventually failed to materialise.
However having been regarded as one of the most talented youngsters to emerge from Greece in recent years, Chelsea and Barcelona were said to have monitored his progress from the Agia Pareskevi academy in Volos where he first made inroads before moving to Thessaloniki to join PAOK.
Marsh admitted interests in the lad is bound to intensify in the coming months, as more clubs look to throw their hats in the ring for his signature.
"I had been on the phone with Leeds this morning. [Lisbon] Sporting wanted him for £25 million last year, seems they went ahead to get someone else," he told SportsBoom.com.
"He's one player I like so much obviously due to his ability and I've got all the paperworks to make his next dream move happen."
Leeds were reportedly keen to bring back two of their stalwarts in Weston McKennie and Manor Solomon, both of whom have enjoyed loan stints with the West Yorkshire club, so it remains to be seen if they would show concrete interest for the young Greek star.
Giannis joined the Thessaloniki-based outfit in November 2020, and is on a lengthy contract at PAOK after extending to stay till the summer of 2029.
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