AEK Athens is a club that Celtic fans will be very familiar with by now. First, they knocked out the Glasgow giants from the UEFA Champions League qualifying stage back in 2018. Then Vasilis Barkas was signed from the club last summer and he has not been great for the Hoops till now. This time around though, a player could be heading the other way.
Olivier Ntcham hasn’t been brilliant in recent times despite his unquestionable talent. He lost his form and his place in the first-team in the first-half of last season. He was then sent out on loan to Marseille in the winter transfer window, in what looked like a brilliant opportunity for him.
Things did not turn out as he would have expected though and Ntcham didn’t impress on the pitch for the French giants. There was an option to buy included in the deal but it does not feel it will be activated. And there were even rumours at one point that the Hoops were ready to release him a year earlier.
There’s always the possibility of getting back to the club, working hard and trying to get back into contention for a first-team place. The fact that a new manager is set to arrive could help Ntcham in that respect. But he is being linked with another move away already.
The Celtic star is being linked with AEK Athens
Does a move to AEK Athens lie in the future for Ntcham? As reported by The Scottish Sun the Greek club want the midfielder and are getting ready to make him an offer.
Journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos also tweeted about the same not too long ago:
Rumor: AEK Athens are interested in Celtic 's Olivier Ntcham. Last season on loan at #OM #TeamOm#AEK #Celtic #CelticFC
— Giannis Chorianopoulos (@choria80) June 2, 2021
There may be a slim chance to re-establish himself in Glasgow for Ntcham and it will depend on whether the incoming manager is impressed by the French midfielder or not.
But at this point of time, it does feel like he could be on his way out of the club in the near future. And a move to AEK Athens might very well be a possibility.