Greek club PAOK are pursuing Baltika central defender Nathan Gassama as they look to strengthen their squad following the departure of Giannis Konstantelias to Borussia Dortmund.
Reports in Russia state that the 25-year-old Malian stopper has emerged as a transfer target for the Thessaloniki side during the current transfer window. The Greek team is working to rebuild squad depth after selling Konstantelias to the German Bundesliga outfit, a move that prompted a vocal reaction from the club's supporters.
Gassama remains under contract with Russian club Baltika until 2028. The Kaliningrad outfit reportedly values the defender at 4 million euros, including performance-related bonuses.
European competition for Gassama
PAOK face stiff competition across Europe for Gassama's signature. Italian Serie A side Bologna are considered the favourites to land the Malian defender as they seek a replacement for Jhon Lucumi, who recently completed a transfer to Juventus.
Bologna chief scout Specchia flew in on a one-day trip via Gdansk to personally evaluate Gassama during a match against Spartak, an outing organized by Le Tallec. Fellow Italian club Torino are also monitoring the player's situation.
Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda, also known as Red Star Belgrade, had expressed interest in the defender as well. However, their pursuit has been placed on hold after a player they intended to sell suffered an injury, coinciding with the club's elimination from the UEFA Champions League.
Cherif Ndiaye arrives on loan
As transfer talks continue around Gassama, PAOK have already bolstered their attacking options by completing the signing of forward Cherif Ndiaye. The 30-year-old Senegalese striker joins the Super League Greece team on loan from Turkish Super Lig side Samsunspor, with the agreement including an option for a permanent purchase.
Speaking to the official PAOK club channel following his arrival, Ndiaye expressed his motivation for joining the club. He explained that he understood the significance of the shirt to the supporters and said he came to Thessaloniki to fight for the team.
Ndiaye added that PAOK was a club he was already familiar with before signing. He noted that he was well aware of the club's history, its passionate fan base, and the quality of the current squad, which made his decision to join an easy one.
Striker targets Toumba Stadium debut
Describing his playing style on the pitch, Ndiaye stated that he is an attacking player who enjoys scoring goals and working hard for his teammates. He emphasized that he always prioritizes team success above personal ambitions.
Off the pitch, the Senegalese forward described himself as somewhat shy. Despite his reserved nature away from the game, he noted his enthusiasm about making his debut at Toumba Stadium.
Ndiaye concluded his introductory interview by praising the PAOK supporters as incredible, adding that he is looking forward to performing in front of the home crowd in Thessaloniki.
