The additions to the Olympiacos squad in the winter transfer window are a topic that concerns the people of the Piraeus team, but at the same time there is a second file regarding the contracts of the players that expire in the summer.

The Red and Whites would like to renew their cooperation with five important footballers, Kostas Fortounis, Giorgos Masouras, Mandi Kamaras, Alexandros Paschalakis and Konstantinos Tzolakis, whose contracts have already expired in the last 7.5 months.

According to the information, Olympiacos has carried out appropriate preparatory work for some of the above-mentioned cases, which means that the parties involved know what they want from each other and developments can be expected, be it this time when the league is suspended or the next one, i.e. the Christmas season. and New Year holidays.

Finally, in a month and a half, i.e. from January, the five footballers will have the right to sign as free agents with any team they want before the summer.

Fortounis is the most catalytic

Fortounis proves in every game that he is the most important and catalytic player for Olympiacos. He makes a difference and is the natural leader of the Pirate team. The 31-year-old is having the best season of his career so far this season with seven goals and nine assists in 17 games in Greece and Europe – a total of 90 goals and 96 assists in 311 games for the red and white jersey.

All this from a player who has undergone two cruciate ligament surgeries in recent years, trained alone at some point early in the season last year and was rejected by Poget in the Greek national team. But Fortounis didn’t give up, he worked hard, he fought and his quality is such that he stands out in the Greek championship and in the European games of Olympiacos.

Masoura is the most productive regional striker

Masouras has been and remains Olympiacos’ most productive winger and outside attacker over the last 3.5 years. Several wingers came through the Piraeus team, but none had the numbers of the Greek star, who has totaled 53 goals and 26 assists in 228 games for the red and white jersey.

Even now, with Martinez deploying him behind the center forward, the international has scored six goals and one assist in 18 league and Europa League games. The 29-year-old striker has had offers from Trabzonspor, Fenerbahce, Sampdoria and Torino in the last 2.5 years, but Olympiacos have retained him and want to extend their partnership with him.

Kamara returned more mature and full of substance

Kamara has returned more mature and substantial since his season at Roma last year under Jose Mourinho and is making a difference alongside Ese in Olympiakos’ midfield. The two have created a strong “twin” who is the “key” to the balance between defense and attack of the Piraeus team.

Their performance has been crucial to the Red and Whites’ progress in the league and Europa League so far and the difference in the picture becomes clear when either of the two is missing from the lineup.

Kamara is a key player in Martinez’s options and only missed the game against Asteras in Tripoli and that was because he was suspended. In all other games he was a key player in Greece and Europe. He also scored against Atromitos, just like in the derby with Panathinaikos, which was abandoned in the 49th minute.

Paschalakis is on the verge of renewal

Paschalakis kept Olympiakos on the ball with his appearances in several games and was and is Martinez’s main option under the posts in the league and in the Europa League. He has made a few mistakes throughout the season, perhaps the biggest being his inability to chase the ball properly for PAOK’s first goal in Karaiskakis, but in general he has ensured points and filled gaps in the Red and Whites’ backline.

The international goalkeeper, now 34 of 35, is close to extending his contract with Olympiakos Piraeus as he feels comfortable in the Piraeus team, is happy and believes he still has something to give. Paschalakis has made 46 appearances for Olympiakos in all competitions over the last 13 months and is keen to celebrate winning the league at the end of the season.

Tzolakis can answer

Tzolakis is also in the shadow of Paschalakis, but he is captain of the Elpido national team and a player who played in 31 games for the Olympiakos first team at the age of 21. Despite his young age, he has experience and is up to any challenge.

We must not forget that the Red and Whites won a trophy against AEK in Volos in September 2020 with Tzolakis in the rafters. At the same time, the great goalkeeper has played against Panathinaikos, PAOK and Aris, among others, in the league in the playoffs and in the cup.

The youngster was also Olympiakos’ starting goalkeeper in the Champions League qualifiers against Neftsi Baku and Ludogorets in summer 2021, while he played in the Europa League group games against Qarabag and Nantes in autumn 2022.

Now it doesn’t seem to be long until the five footballers mentioned above will be invited to the final talks to extend their cooperation with Olympiakos Piraeus.