Greek Super League club PAOK FC have rejected a 2 million euro transfer offer from English side Bolton Wanderers for winger Shola Shoretire.
The Thessaloniki-based club decided to retain the young forward despite pressure from the player himself to allow the move to go ahead.
Reporting on the latest transfer developments for Greek news outlet protothema.gr on the podcast The Football Show by Stoiximan, journalist Stavros Sountoulidis outlined the club's recent transfer activity. According to Sountoulidis, Bolton Wanderers submitted a formal proposal worth 2 million euros to sign Shoretire. Although the former Manchester United youth academy graduate actively pushed for the transfer to be completed, PAOK officials chose to gamble on his long-term potential and rejected the bid from the League One team.
Celtic approach for Greg Taylor
PAOK adopted a matching firm stance regarding defender Greg Taylor after Scottish champions Celtic renewed their interest in securing his services. Sountoulidis reported that the Scottish club returned with an inquiry to re-sign the left-back, but the Greek side showed no disposition to release or sell him during the current window.
Taylor previously spent several seasons in Glasgow with Celtic before his move to Greece, establishing himself in European football. Despite Celtic's renewed approach, PAOK remained firm on keeping the defender as part of their domestic and European squad depth.
Loan pursuit of Kristijan Jakic
While holding on to key first-team players, the northern Greek club is simultaneously working to strengthen its options in central midfield. Sountoulidis revealed that PAOK have submitted an official loan offer to German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg for Croatian international midfielder Kristijan Jakic.
However, the proposed move faces significant hurdles because Augsburg are not currently open to releasing the player on a temporary basis. The German side's stance against a loan deal has complicated negotiations for PAOK as they search for midfield reinforcements.
Jakic, a defensive midfielder who won the UEFA Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt before joining Augsburg, remains under contract in Germany, making a straight loan agreement difficult to reach without further negotiation.
Young prospects attract transfer interest
Shoretire was not the only young player at the club to attract outside attention in recent days. Sountoulidis reported that PAOK also received preliminary approaches for promising young squad members Anestis Mythou and Dimitris Hatsidis.
PAOK, known officially as the Double-headed Eagle of the North, have consistently sought to balance squad stability with youth development as they navigate their domestic Super League Greece campaign.
