By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
A third Top16 team entered the mix in the race to sign Kostas Papanikolaou. Not only Panathinaikos and Olympiacos have made their offers, but also Lokomotiv Kuban of former Olympiacos coach Giorgos Bartzokas wants the player.
Lokomotiv was already in the market for a player, failed to get Mardy Collins from Strasbourg and Kostas Papanikolaou seems to be an ever better addition and a total fit to the needs of the team. Considering the fact that it’s always difficult for a Greek player who was connected with Olympiacos to sign with Panathinaikos – or the opposite – Lokomotiv Kuban is a solid alternative for Papanikolaou.
In any case, Barcelona will have the right to match any offer made to Papanikolaou and decide if they will let him go elsewhere, or if they will bring him back to Spain.