Giorgos Giakoumakis is reportedly “keen” to make a move to Liga MX amid interest and a possible bid from Cruz Azul.
The report, from Fabrizio Romano, comes as Giakoumakis — whose contract expires in 2025 with an option for 2026 — and Atlanta are in discussions for a contract extension, as Tom Bogert reported on May 15. According to the MLSPA salary guide, Giakoumakis will make $2.248 million in 2024, making him the club’s highest-paid player, but it puts him below others such as Portland’s Jonathan Rodriguez ($2.627M) and Nashville’s Sam Surridge ($2.907M), and well below the highest paid striker in the league, D.C.’s Christian Benteke (nearly $4.5M). As Felipe Cardenas points out, Giakoumakis may be simply looking for leverage in the negotiations amid Cruz Azul’s pending offer.
Per Bogert, Cruz Azul’s initial bid of $6 million was rejected by Atlanta United. According to Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday, Cruz Azul’s focus shifted to Torino man Duvan Zapata; after Torino club president Urbano Cairo vetoed any potential offer, Giakoumakis found himself back in the sights of La Máquina, who are ready to submit a new bid. Bogert reports that Atlanta will “likely” command at least $8 million, or two times the initial transfer fee for Giakoumakis.
After 17 goals and three assists in 27 matches (21 starts) last season, Giakoumakis is on 5g/2s in 2024 through nine matches (eight starts). But his time in Atlanta has included several stints on the injury list due to a balky hamstring. He departed the 1-0 loss against FC Cincinnati and didn’t play against Nashville SC while being held out of the U.S. Open Cup match against the Charleston Battery on Tuesday.
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Welp, looks like this got finalized.
[…] pick of a wide assortment of managers looking for work. Furthermore, with all of the smoke around Giorgos Giakoumakis’ potential transfer to Cruz Azul, the groundwork is set for the next gaffer to potentially influence the team’s next signings […]
If he does want out I wouldn’t blame him. What’s the point in being one of the best strikers in the league just to be on Atlanta United.😔
I’m not sure you can call him that with only 5 goals and tied for 17th in the league. He’s hurt way too much and falls when you breathe on him. Can’t really pass nor dribble to beat anyone.
What’s the point of having deep pockets if we don’t pay to keep one of the players who can keep the season from being a total waste?
for some reason, Atlanta having deep pockets do not equal heavy spending. The pockets are only deep to receive the money, not to spend.
Garth told us in his first (and maybe only) interview in Nov. 2022 after taking the president job that he planned to slash spending on players. What he did NOT do is explain how exactly “Less money on players equals more wins/trophies”. I can’t answer your question, but when a guy tells you “I am going to do X” and then he does X, it shouldn’t be a surprise.
Link to where he says he’ “slashing spending on players”. Or is that your own hyperbolic interpretation?
There’s a lot of Lagerwey interviews on podcasts out there. I recommend catching the Extra Time pod from 2/29/2024. I listened to it last night. I do not hear a guy “slashing spending”. He did talk about the need to move out awful contracts without being too derogatory or undermining. I think he’s keenly aware of the need to be smart in finding value under the salary cap. You can’t have expensive misses. AUFC was spending like $20m in payroll a couple years ago for what? I do think we will not see any more big swings on those U22 initiatives. Lagerwey doesn’t view those as huge opportunity to add value. If anything, swinging big there has hurt Atlanta more than helped as we saw the roster kind of log jammed because of expensive misses there (namely Erik Lopez, but neither of Sosa, Ibarra, nor Mosquera proved to be truly starting-quality players under those deals, either).
He doesn’t talke much about DP spending. I don’t think they will shy away from big deals on the right players, but I do not think he prioritizes the need to find younger guys like Miggy, Thiago or especially Barco. The number one analytic point they start with is player ages vs predicted prime ages for the positions. He goes on a bit about Slizs and how we will have him for his entire (predicted) prime, and the other opportunities he had but turned down to come to MLS. Anyway, I think we will see more guys like Slisz, Saba, Muyumba or Giako in that 22/23-28/29 year old range versus signing expensive guys in the 18-21 year old range.
To JBTC’s point. We actually don’t have to do anything but reject offers to keep Giako here for the rest of this season, next season and I think 2026 (club option).
I think you’re right about DP spending and being more cautious about younger players, but I think the U22 slots can bring huge value – it’s just a matter of signing players that are actually good. All of our current U22s were brought in by Boca before our new analytics department was in place. Younger players are always going to be more of a gamble, but those roster spots are too valuable to not use.
I’m happy with players in their supposed ‘prime’ like Slisz and Muyumba, but successful teams need to have a mix of young players, veterans and ‘prime age’ players.
The U22 thing was a total bust. You need a great scouting department and network of agents in South America / Eastern Europe to make that work.
Based on his just expired contract, unless he is willing to take the mother of all pay cuts, I don’t think there’s a fit with us. Garth has made it crystal clear that cutting pay roll is a priority for him. Why? Well, he hasn’t made that clear. I actually expect if GG is sold that his replacement will be cheaper, not a guy probably still able to get big money like Memphis.
Link? He’s mentioned clearing out bad contracts. I’ve not seen him or heard him say he’s cutting payroll just to cut. We saw him turn Josef and Araujo into Giako and Saba. Forgetting the $6m difference in salary, which pair of players would you want on Saturday?
Yeah, I don’t remember him saying he was going to cut payroll – not on new contracts, anyway. That would have been news.
he goes by just Memphis, but he would be a good option assuming GG leaves during the summer window, but it could be that he wants to stay in Europe as well
To be fair, Memphis is a city in Tennessee with overrated BBQ.
I sincerely hope this is just an agent ploy to get GG more money. IF our club lets him go ‘to make whatever sum of money for a one time deal in the middle of our season’ and/or they don’t have the balls to fire Pineda along with it, that will be my final straw of being an Atlanta United fan.
That move would 100% prove our club was just a side project to fill AB’s pockets and that he and our FO give absolute two $hits about us fans. I am dead serious on this one – I’ll be gone like the wind (and I am a day one supporter and ATL local).
F around and find out.
I get your frustration. For me, the hiring of Pineda was the final nail in the coffin of the idea that AU was special and part of what was called MLS 3.0. Now we are Just Another Team. There is no real difference between us an Chicago, RSL, SKC, Dallas, Orlando City and others. We’ve already been left in the dust as MLS has new faces now. Getting rid of GG and Almada actually provides a “It wasn’t his fault!” excuse for keeping Pineda, so don’t be surprised if that happens.
Blank does care but… He will NEVER be the agent of salvation for this franchise. He doesn’t know anything about soccer so he won’t interfere and honestly, when he has interfered with the Falcons, it’s pretty much always been very bad. His final obsession in life is to win a Super Bowl and he will be spending his remaining time on earth trying to do that. He hasn’t been super clear about it, but some group of his kids will take over when he dies. Inheritance tax laws have changed a lot in recent decades and owners can pass on teams to their offspring without the kids having to pay crippling taxes on the teams. Who knows what we’ll get when that happens?
I have pretty negative theories about Garth and Boca, but I shouldn’t keep droning on. I’ll just say that I really think Garth does not care about anything but his paycheck, having already achieved every goal he ever had as GM in Seattle. And Boca does want us to win trophies, but ONLY if he gets ALL the credit. I love soccer and MLS and I hate that AU is what it is, but I just shrug and don’t expect much any more.
I agree with a lot of your high level takes regarding the state of the club, but I dont follow your “Boca must get all the credit” hypothesis.
Thanks for your comments and insight.
“Getting rid of GG and Almada actually provides a “It wasn’t his fault!” excuse for keeping Pineda, so don’t be surprised if that happens.”
We all know Almada is likely gone this summer (IF they can get the paycheck they want), but getting rid of our top striker mid season screams ‘throwing the white flag of surrender’ if I ever saw one. I won’t be associated with that type of management and club if that occurs… hope we are both wrong, but I’m not holding my breath.
Well between GG, Almada’s presumed succession plan, and the Pineda succession plan, we are going to learn a lot about how ambitious the FO really is.
Good players can smell suck. It’s affecting.
Maybe GG wants to move to a winner. Hear me out. This club is going no where, fast. Greece is not in the Euros. Maybe he just wants to win a trophy? Cannot blame him. He is almost 30. How many prime years does he have left?
Once upon a time, Atlanta United aspired to be the best club in North America. That dream is long gone.
Maybe they just got lucky.
I’m pretty surprised at how calm everybody below is about this news. By the way, The Athletic mentioned this too in article on MLS players who might be leaving over the summer window. I do want to point out that we only have 4 players wth 2+ goals right now in MLS play and if Tank and Almada leave, that is 2 of those players.
I think it is more than likely the GG news, is more a negotiation leverage for a new contract he is searching for. We knew Almada was wanting to go to Europe since he first arrived. So there is no reason to freak out.
Also, it’s not like the season is going super great so far.
Agreed…GG sees the price tag for Almada and says I’ll take a piece. Atlanta continues to invest in the team (thank you A. Blank for a $23M investment to expand the training facility). What is the issue with the team?
Sure looks like a leverage play in negotiations. No big deal.
Yeah, I mean, the writing is on the wall. The schedule for the next month sucks. Almada wants out. Pineda is on the hottest of seats.
If you have a good offer in Mexico, why wouldn’t you take it? How many more big checks do you have to cash?
Definitely agree on the apathy. I remember the shit storm when Josef threatened to leave during the Heinze benching. I was actually super depressed from that news thinking I’d never see Josef play again. Now I’m just like whatever and at least happy GG gets to go somewhere where they actually win.
I do also agree with others that it is probably mostly contract negotiations. Though I would find it darkly fitting if Pineda and the FO managed to drive away the two best strikers we ever had (and yes I know all the caveats that Josef more or less washed when he left).
Speaking for myself, you’re right about apathy creeping in.
I love GG, but honestly losing anyone at this point feels like it makes no difference. He spends half the time on the injury list and it’s really hard to make a difference as a striker that way. Almada is magic… when he wants to be, which seems like never lately. I don’t even know what the answer is anymore. Guys might as well go get paid.
Make room for Mbappe.
Rumor mill says he’s looking for a new team.
Can you imagine Mbappe vs Messi? Nobody’s ever seen anything like that before!
can you imagine how much money Mbappe will need to be paid to be willing to play in MLS?
Maybe MLS will let him had a cut of the AppleTV money too.
In all seriousness, if Mbappe were willing to come to Atlanta (and he’s not), Uncle Arthur would pay him literally whatever he wanted. Saudi league money.
I genuinely don’t think so. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but it wouldn’t make sense on a return on investment perspective.
Oh I think it would. You would be at 75k for every game. Shirts flying off the shelves. Even the bad ones.
Now, he would never do it. Nor should he. So it’s a moot point.
However, if an in prime striker was willing to come here for 25 mil a year? You hit the buy on that every time.
Blank would have to give him a minority ownership stake in the Falcons or AUFC, or both on top of a comical cash salary.
What makes you think that? If so, why hasn’t he already swung for the fences?
Because Messi wasn’t here.
Because they told Uncle Arthur to way to get the best players is to buy them young and then sell them on to Europe.
Because many (including me) thought the only way to get superstars is to buy them when they’re on the cusp and then steal a year of their prime before you sell them on.
But that is not the case. All those dudes moved to the Saudi League. Messi came here. A bunch of dudes went to China, which is a TERRIBLE league.
Money talks….if you have to pay up so you make sure you get Lukaku or Griezmann instead of Insigne, you do it.
Yes. Yes I can.
He’s good but injured a lot. Take the money.
And replace him with whom? I know it’s actually to our advantage to do our business during the summer – because that’s when the rest of the world is moving players – but we have a manager on the hot seat and are out of the playoff spots.
Unless you brought in three new, huge money DP’s….and they all knew about it, Messi style…I’m not sure how this thing has a happy ending.
Luka Jovic is actually available….and scores when he’s in the lineup
You could also probably get kamada from lazio
Ew, Lazio…
We’ll give him a new shirt when he gets here
With Giroud already signed and out the door to LA, I doubt AC Milan let their only other true striker leave
He hasn’t been playing for them, much. They probably have their eye on a larger prize.
Replace him with whom? Rios, Thiare,…it doesn’t matter. This team isn’t winning anything. Sell everyone you can and fire the coach right now, and rebuild AGAIN
I don’t think they’re that far off!
What if we came out like this?
……….GG (Memphis) – Saba
…………….Almada (Yusuf Yazici)
Wiley – Muyumba – Slisz – Lennon
……….Cobb – Morales – Gregersen
3-4-1-2…you run mid block with NO press on D. We suck at the press, but are very solid in mid to deep D. (another pineda problem…why are you pressing when almada, saba and xande / mosquera are allergic to defense?)
Then on offense you can run the basic shape you already run, 3-2-1-4. You try and hit Lennon or Wiley down the touch lines, over the top. None of this long ball to knock down and hope we hold it bullshit.
Or you hit Almada (or whoever the 10 is) in space, let them create.
It’s pretty basic, but I think the personnel is there to make it work. You just have to:
a – be willing to make that pass over the opposing fullbacks
b – swing the ball quickly along the centerbacks (with the CCB willing to hit that long ball early and often)
c – have a great 10
It’s really not that big a jump to competitiveness. They just have to be willing to stretch the defense.
But….here’s the really dumb thing. Defenses will adjust immediately. They will do anything not to get beat over the top. And, what does that open up? The middle of the field, where all of their players currently reside.
I mean, Pineda makes pretty decent halftime adjustments. He does. So why is the first plan so fucking terrible each time?
Been saying for a long time we need to run two strikers….
Well. Could be an eventful summer.. Looks like Chelsea are pretty keen on Almada too:https://www.transfermarkt.us/thiago-almada-to-chelsea-fc-/thread/forum/613/thread_id/696
Sell him while we still can.. Hope the FO has someone they’re ready to bring in ASAP
I think this only happens if he shows up during the Olympics, especially since he wasn’t called up to the senior team for Copa. Also Chelsea just fired their manager, so they need a new manager who loves Almada for this to happen.
Good point. Was not even thinking about Pochettino’s Chelsea exit and what that could mean for that transfer rumor.
Well, to be fair, Pochettino was fired yesterday, and the rumors are from a little while ago…
how much do you think we would have to pay poch a year? 20 mil? more?
well, i don’t think it would cost a ridiculous amount, if he wants to rebuild his stock in the MLS. but i also think Pochettino will get offers from other European teams
every team with an opening will make an inquiry
He’s never on the field anyways
Wonder what his injury record was before AU. I don’t think we would’ve gotten him if he was so prone to injury…
https://www.transfermarkt.us/georgios-giakoumakis/verletzungen/spieler/234850
Sometimes teams take a chance on players with an injury history if they think they can address that via a different training regimen/sport science program. Regardless definitely an injury history.
Between this and his lack of leadership disposition, would be a good deal if we can sell him for a decent price. Rios just needs some more minutes with the team and can add another serviceable striker on the cheap.
Rios isn’t good
Exactly, Rios is the cheap “serviceable” striker
This is why I won’t be all that upset if they opt to sell. Sure, a replacement striker, even on a DP contract may not be a sure thing. However, locking up Giako for another 4-5 years isn’t sure fire, either. He turns 30 in December. What is he going to be at the end of a longer-term extension? Of course, we don’t even know what MLS roster rules might look like by then, either. Good article on FSF on this and highlighting Lagerway’s extension to Rudiaz and how that might serve as a lesson learned. (I had the concern about Giako’s age as a potential problem on an extension on my own, but had no insight on the Rudiaz deal until I read their article, so credit where it’s due.)
That’s an interesting point…..what if we want to only pay him through his age 33 season? And he wants 5 guaranteed years?
Sometimes the business hurts. You can get caught off guard, like we did with Josef, or you can make a hard choice like this one.
I’ll take GG 50% of the time over anyone other striker on our roster 100% of the time
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing Thiare play more. He looks spry and willing to run….injured a lot and not the greatest finisher on earth, but that’s also why he’s a backup.