Antonio Colak should be sold to Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, PAOK Thessaloniki legend Filotas Pellios tells Metropolis 95.5.
It’s not Colak’s dreadful goalscoring record for the Super Lig outfit that has Pellios praying for his departure. It’s his age, more than anything else.
The Croatia international will turn 29 in September. And he’s far from the oldest member of a squad with more veterans than a Dad’s Army reunion. Pellios, for one, would welcome the prospect of replacing Colak with a younger model.
“We definitely need new young players,” says a man who won the league and the Greek cup with the Eagle of the North during the 1970s. “PAOK must fight for the championship but they must also bring in new young players.
“You cannot have six or seven players over 30 in the line-up to provide experience. Two or three players are enough.”
Rangers must pay £2.5m for Antonio Colak
Pellios does agree with PAOK coach Razvan Lucescu, however, pointing out that Colak’s departure – Rangers have already agreed personal terms with the former Malmo loanee – would leave the club with ex-Nottingham Forest man Nelson Oliveira as their only senior centre-forward ahead of the new campaign.
“PAOK cannot rely only on Oliveira. They must also get a second centre-forward,” Pellios adds.
“In my opinion, Colak should leave. PAOK should find an opportunity and sell him. From there on, PAOK must find a player to score goals.”
Colak, according to the Scottish Sun, has turned down a host of other clubs in favour of putting pen to paper with Rangers. The Glasgow giants have made a couple of bids but they are yet to meet PAOK’s £2.5 million asking price.
“It would be a huge move for Antonio to sign for Rangers,” says former Malmo ace Daniel Larsson.
“This would be a big step to a massive club. If I was him, and the chance was there, then I’d be very happy if a club like Rangers showed an interest.
“He’s growing as a player and he would be a huge success at Rangers, I have no doubt about that.”
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