Greek news outlet Sportime recently revealed that Newcastle United have entered the race to acquire the services of Dimitrios Giannoulis from PAOK Salonika this summer. It is understood that the Magpies are seriously considering bringing the Greek defender to St. James’ Park in this off-season as Steve Bruce looks to build a strong squad ahead of the new campaign.
Giannoulis’ Recent Emergence In Greek Football
The Katerini-born full-back was responsible for putting in a string of productive displays on the left side of Abel Ferreira’s defence as he enjoyed a rich vein of form at the Toumba Stadium last season. He featured in 44 matches for the Greek outfit in the previous campaign, finding the back of the net once while picking up six assists in various competitions.
Giannoulis managed to establish himself as one of the top full-backs in the Greek Super League after discovering a run of consistency down the left flank. The 24-year-old rising star is also a capable defender at the back but is still untested at the highest level.
The seven-time Greek international has managed to make a positive impression in Greek football, but there are some significant doubts over whether he will be able to be as productive as he has been for PAOK over the past 12 months.
What Will The Greek International Offer On The Pitch?
Giannoulis has decent pace under his belt, which he can utilise to run up and down the field on the left-wing. He is a great athlete who can get to the byline and whip in some inviting crosses into the opponent’s penalty area. The Greek defender has got a solid work ethic and has shown that he can be a hard man to beat out on the wide areas. However, his inexperience of playing football at the top level makes him a risky target for the Magpies to consider before the new Premier League campaign kicks off next month.
Is Giannoulis A Good Option For The Magpies This Summer?
Bruce has currently got Paul Dummett and Javier Manquillo as his only two left-back options at Tyneside. Therefore, the Newcastle head coach needs to prioritise signing a new left-back this summer. Giannoulis fits the bill perfectly as he is a young and promising full-back who won’t mind fighting for his spot in Bruce’s match-day squad every week in the upcoming season.
At 24, Giannoulis has his best years ahead of him, so he will be able to play at his peak for the Magpies if he decides to join them before the transfer window slams shut later this year. The Greek defensive ace will serve as a decent option for the Tyneside outfit as he possesses the pace and creativity to succeed in English football and become a fan-favourite at St. James’ Park in the years to come.
