The summer window doesn't wait, and Olympiacos are learning that lesson through two parallel transfer sagas, one moving fast, the other stuck in a familiar Mediterranean standoff.
The week's defining story is Noah Candidou. The Lorient midfielder wants Olympiacos, and Olympiacos want him. That much is settled. What isn't settled is Lorient's asking price, which the French club is digging in on, turning what should be a straightforward negotiation into a test of patience. Candidou is pushing from his side, but in modern football, a player's desire only carries so far when the selling club smells leverage. (1)
The Costinha hole and the Vrousai solution
Brighton came calling for Costinha, and the right-back is heading to England. Olympiacos, to their credit, haven't panicked. Portuguese winger Vrousai is the name in the frame, a direct, pacy option who fits Mendilibar's demand for intensity in wide areas. The Maffeo deal with Mallorca, reportedly agreed at around three million euros, shows the club can move with purpose when the pathway is clear. Right-back is being addressed. (4)
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Midfield: the puzzle Mendilibar needs solved
Candidou isn't the only midfield iron in the fire. Unai López, a Mendilibar recommendation, continues to hover around the rumor mill without firm resolution. The manager is shaping this squad deliberately, targeting an attacking winger with speed (Adrián Liso among those assessed) and a Greek left-back, but deliberate becomes damaging if the calendar flips and deals remain unsigned.
Sitting second on 66 points with a +34 goal difference tells you the foundation is solid. But the gap between second and where Olympiacos want to be is not closed by standing still. Mendilibar's project demands specific tools, and the club owe him the chance to start pre-season with a squad that resembles the final version, not a draft.
Mouzakitis and the noise from Spain
Away from the first team, Christos Mouzakitis is attracting interest from Spain. The 19-year-old prospect represents a different kind of tension, not a signing but a retention battle. Olympiacos have not always held onto their best young talent when La Liga clubs circle. This summer tests whether that pattern shifts.
The week ahead should bring movement on Candidou. Either Lorient compromise or Olympiacos walk, but the middle ground cannot hold forever. Fans should also watch for concrete news on the López front and whether Vrousai moves from target to signing. Mendilibar wants speed. The club now need to match his urgency.
