Gelson Martins eyes a lucrative two-year deal in Russia, but a €2 million valuation gap keeps Olympiacos and Krasnodar deadlocked as the transfer window enters its final stages.
Russian top-flight side FC Krasnodar have sealed an agreement on personal terms with Olympiacos man Gelson Martins — per an update by TransferFeed.
Russian media outlet football24.ru revealed that Krasnodar have offered a two-year contract to the 31-year-old with a salary of around €2.5 million net annually.
Despite the player and his potential destination club agreeing on financial terms, there has been no understanding on transfer fees between Olympiacos and Krasnodar.
The two sides remain locked in negotiations as there is a €2 million gap separating their respective valuations for the player. While the Red and Whites have labelled a €6 million price tag for Martins, Krasnodar have sent a bid in the region of €4 million. However, both clubs continue to stay in contact to discuss a possible resolution to this impasse.
The funds from Martins' potential sale to the Russian side could open up a late charge for Olympiacos in the transfer market. They have already sent a bid to EFL Championship outfit West Ham United for the signature of Mexican National Team captain Edson Alvarez after securing his fellow countryman Armando Gonzalez from Liga MX club Chivas de Guadalajara recently.
Martins has been one of the players in Jose Luis Mendilibar's side who has been transfer-listed for quite some time now, as his sale has been imminent ever since the window began. The Portuguese international joined the Piraeus-based club in the winter transfer window of 2024 for a reported €3 million fee from Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco. He won two titles under his name in his first full season at the club, in which he netted seven times in the Super League Greece.
The Sporting CP youth academy graduate would still be delivering a net profit to the club with his departure if we consider his transfer fee paid to bring him in two years back. Olympiacos president Evangelos Marinakis has been commanding a busy summer transfer window this time, and he has played it quite well in financial matters concerning signings and sales.
Right now, Olympiacos are searching for a midfielder, and the likes of Daniel Braganca, Gustavo Puerta and Alvarez have been on their shortlist. Santiago Hezze's future at the club is also up in the air, and Alvarez would seem to be the best solution if he departs soon. The Mexican captain has been playing as an adept defensive midfielder while pitching in core defensive duties whenever required.
