Aris is entering its final week of training before departing for Italy, with the focus of its transfer strategy now shifting to the defense and the goalkeeper position.
The “yellow-and-blacks’” roster looks quite deep in midfield and on offense, unlike in previous summers, when the coach was forced to resort to stopgap measures during preseason friendlies.
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The most significant gaps are currently in the center of the defense and on the left flank. For this reason, Aris officials are seeking to finalize at least two signings before the team departs for the main phase of preseason training.
The goal is to immediately sign a center back and a left back, so that Michalis Grigoriou can work with players he truly counts on for the starting lineup during the high-intensity friendlies in Italy.
Negotiations with specific players are at an advanced stage. Aris has identified its primary targets and believes these are players who can effectively meet the team’s needs.
The signing of the first center back has taken longer than the “yellow-and-blacks” had anticipated. The initial plan was to finalize this transfer quickly and avoid turning it into a drawn-out saga, but negotiations have not yet led to a definitive agreement.
At the same time, Aris is on the hunt for an experienced, top-tier goalkeeper to bolster the team’s options following the departure of Giorgos Athanasiadis.
Yuri Lodigin is currently in the spotlight. The 36-year-old goalkeeper did not see any playing time at Panathinaikos, but he has significant experience in the Greek league.
Last season, he made 31 appearances for Levadiakos, and in the past he has played for Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and PAS Giannina. He is very familiar with the demands of Greek soccer and is a proven choice for the goalkeeper position.
Discussions between the two sides indicate that there is room for an agreement, though Aris has not yet abandoned its efforts to sign goalkeepers from abroad.
*photo source: Levadiakos FC
