No potential suitors have been named in the report, but the Greek media has strongly linked Seitaridis with a Panathinaikos return. Through the rather abstract website Facebook.com, the Greek press erupted in pandemonium less than a month ago as the apparent profile page of Seitaridis hinted the defender would be making the move to Athens for the coming season.

However, it is not definite that Seitaridis will be sent packing this summer, but likely a wage cut will be the least the Madrid outfit does ahead of the new season.

Under their Greeks Abroad page, I found an article with an excellent overview of Peter Storrie’s recent remarks after the director of the Greek National Team, Takis Fyssas, made a phone call to the director of Portsmouth, Paul Storrie.

Now it’s never a good thing when a player goes public about the on-goings inside a particular football institution, or any sport for that matter. Nevertheless, Theofanis Gekas did just that in the wake of his frustration over the lack of playing time for the Greece international. And he is absolutely right, and don’t think I am just defending my compatriot who is arguably the best striker on the Greek National Team at the moment.

While I was proud of Gekas, the rest of Portsmouth was likely pissed off; including the big cheese himself. We’re not talking Feta Cheese here, but in fact it was Feta Cheese, Fyssas, who apparently made the situation worse when he contacted the big cheese, Storrie.

In an interview with the English press, Storrie was clearly upset that Athens was calling about the lack of playing time on Gekas’ plate. The interview isn’t graphic but it does reveal a bit of anger in the Englishman who is irate at the fact the Greek National Team has the nerve to ring up the English minnows.

‘At the end of the day it is the manager’s choice which player should play.

‘To get the Greek national manager ringing me up and telling me who I should play and who I shouldn’t play I think is absolutely outrageous.

‘You know, you deal with your damn Greek side, don’t start telling us who we should play at Portsmouth Football Club.

‘If I get another call from the Greek damn national manager, he’s going to get a real kick from us because at the end of the day Paul didn’t pick this player to come to the club, Tony (Adams) did.

‘Personally, I back what Paul is doing 150 per cent.’

So as a stubborn Storrie, and an even more bullish Paul Hart continue Gekas’ bench-side misery, there appears to be no end for Gekas’ stint on the sidelines. Furthermore, the Greek contingent on the sidelines has increased to two players in recent weeks with the benching of Angelos Basinas for the past few matches.

So will Gekas ever make an appearance for Portsmouth, let alone a start? Only time will tell, but how sweet would it be if both Gekas and Basinas gave five-star performances in the approaching week when Greece tackles Israel in World Cup Qualifying? I pray they make Storrie, and Hart, eat their words.

Disappointed that his side walked away empty handed, Adams was clear to point out Basinas was successful as an individual on his debut. “It’s a hard fact swallow that we didn’t get anything from this game,” said Adams.

“We made mistakes, but on the positive side there were many good performances [from our players]. Basinas made a good debut [for the club].”

Compatriot Theofanis Gekas didn’t make his debut at Fratton Park on Saturday, but is expected to play a role, along with Basinas, in Greece’s international friendly with Denmark on Wednesday.

Playing at the LTU Arena due to renovations at traditional venue BayArena, Leverkusen failed to grab a boost in its bid to reach the Champions League next term.

With his side already trailing 4-1 by the final moments of the match, Charisteas pounced on a centering pass from striking partner Stefan Kiessling to deposit a consulate goal for a deflated Leverkusen.

Charisteas is expected to make an appearance for Greece on Wednesday, as Denmark pays a visit to Athens for an all-European International friendly at the OAKA Spyros Louis Stadium.

Speaking to Pompey TV, Metgod was more than optimistic about Pompey’s winter signings, and claimed strongly that the Greek pair would do marvels for their new club.

“The signings we did were good,” he told Pompey TV.

“Gekas has got a very good goalscoring record, not only in Greece but in Germany, where he played for Bochum first and then Leverkusen.

“And I think Basinas is a very clever, intelligent midfield player. He has a lot of experience and is a good passer of the ball. I think he has good vision.”

With a  tough match against title chasers Liverpool this weekend, Fratton Park will be hoping Pompey can begin the healing process. The club’s official website has confirmed Basinas will start the match for the home side, while Gekas will do likewise on the bench.

“They will both be assets to the group and to the squad. Hopefully they can produce, starting straight away against Liverpool,” he continued.

It’s is expected to be a long battle for Portsmouth, after several high-quality stars left Fratton Park for greener pastures in England and abroad; including Lassana Diarra, who joined Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Jermaine Defoe left the club to return to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, after the England international claimed his stay with the Hampshire club featured death threats.

“I think even though it is Liverpool for their first game, they must always play to get three points. I am absolutely sure we have got to be motivated – in this situation you must go for the win.”

No press release has been posted on Werder Bremen’s website as of yet, but the Greek press says the deal has already been signed.

According to Greek sports site SPORT24.GR, the former Olympiacos man has signed a 3.5 year contract with Werder Bremen’s youth outfit, Werder Bremen B.

Matsoukas worked his way up through the amateur ranks at Olympiacos, and signed a professional contract during July 2007. His time with the Greek Champions was limited, as six months after he signed on at ‘O Thrylos’, he was loaned out to now Beta Ethniki side Egaleo.

He returned to Piraeus six months later, but within thirty days he was loaned out again; this time to second-tier outfit Ethnikos Asteras.

His loan was terminated this earlier month; with many expecting Matsoukas to return to the club after Darko Kovacevic was forced into early retirement due to hear surgery.

To the surprise of many, Matsoukas was released by the club after manager Ernesto Valverde alerted management that the youthful Greek was not part of the Spaniard’s plans.

A fresh start in Germany could be the right tonic for Matsoukas to grow into a star striker; however, the Greek starlet will likely face great competition within the Bremen ranks.

Plying his trade in the second tier of German football since the start of the current season, Charisteas was rumoured to be on his way out of Nuremberg since the start of last summer’s transfer period. Staying put, however, Charisteas remained a great asset for the former Bundesliga club up ‘til their agreement with Leverkusen on Monday.

The move is reportedly not compatible with a permanent stay at season’s end; with Nuremberg still in seek of returning to the German top flight.

Arriving as a direct replacement for the departed Gekas, it seems Charisteas will be part of a secondary striker unit. While he will likely be starting most matches on the bench, the experience Charisteas has accredited to his name is rather remarkable.

Winning the Bundesliga crown with Werder Bremen in 2005, Charisteas has the experience and talent to propel Leverkusen to the UEFA Champions League next season.

Known for his aerial abilities, Charisteas’ strength in the air makes him a lethal finisher on crosses and set-pieces, most notably through his performance at the EURO 2004 tournament in Portugal.

Signing on at Fratton Park for the next eighteen months, the move is rumoured to be a free transfer, but not all details have been revealed by either side.

A press release on AEK’s official website hints that the move is of the free nature; “AEK FC announces the termination of its co-operation with Angelos Basinas. The administration of AEK would like to thank the player for his efforts, and wish him success in the future.”

As AEK’s woes continue, and somewhat worsen after Giorgos Kintis stepped down as AEK president, Basinas appears to be exiting the capital club at just the right time. However, his departure was not swift enough for the EURO 2004 winner to excuse himself from hostile criticism originating from AEK’s most loyal supporters – mainly supporters club Original 21.

Meanwhile, in England, Basinas has been praised a big signing for Portsmouth, and the club’s chairman Peter Storrie was very excited about the move.

“We’ve brought in someone of immense experience, the current captain of Greece who is just three games away from winning his 100th cap for his country,” Storrie told http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk.

“He’s exactly what we need in the situation that we’re in. He’s a player that Tony was eager to bring to Pompey.

“He desperately wanted to come here and we have an option to sign him for a further year on top of the 18 months.”

His full decade spell with Panathinaikos refers to an in-prime Basinas, but it wasn’t until the EURO 2004 finals that Basinas stamped his name on international football. Scoring on a penalty against Portugal in the tournament’s opening game; Basinas then went on to assist on Greece’s tournament-winning goal against the same Portuguese side in the tournament’s climax.

A year and half after helping Greece claim top spot in Lisbon, Basinas moved to Spanish side RCD Mallorca during the January transfer window of 2006. Immediately making an impact, Basinas was a crucial part of Mallorca’s survival in the Spanish top flight.

The following season Mallorca rose from the near extremes of the drop zone to finish seventh in the La Liga standings, and only one point from qualifying for European competition. While he contributed in Mallorca’s uprising, which was ultimately pioneered by Spain international Danny Guiza, Basinas was released by the island club in July.

Returning to Greece this summer, AEK signed the Greek midfielder to a two-year contract. That paperwork has since been terminated, and it is reported the Super League giants have saved a whopping € 1.9 million on salary by offloading Basinas.

Linked with several clubs, including Greek Champions Olympiacos, Gekas was rumoured to leave Leverkusen during the early weeks of January; however, hearsay remained just speculation, and Gekas remained part of ‘Werkself’ until making the move to England.

Complete details have been hard to come by, but there is a hint that the move could be made permanent if Gekas lives up to expectation while at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams appears to have high hopes for the Greek gem, as the English bench boss spoke to the club’s official website about Pompey’s latest swoop in the transfer market.

“His goal scoring record is fantastic and he’s always looking to score goals,” Adams told http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk.

“He’s always on the shoulder of the last defender, he looks to get in behind the defence and he’s got a great eye for goal. Hopefully that will continue with Pompey,” continued Adams.

“He plays for the Greek national team and recently came on against Italy and scored. A couple of years ago he was the highest scorer in the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga is a fantastic league, so that’s not an easy feat.

“I think that he’s really keen to come to the Premier League and get some goals for us. He’s a player that I think can come in and do well straight away. He’s certainly hungry to do well and hopefully he can hit the ground running. I think he’s got the right attitude and mentality to come in and do well right from the start.

“I’m surprised that he hasn’t played as much for Leverkusen this season; but he’s still been useful for them. He’s only played 108 minutes for them in the league, and he’s scored two goals.”

Adams does have reason to be optimistic about his newest striker, as Gekas made a hugh splash in the scoring charts of the German Bundesliga during his rookie year in Germany’s top flight. Signing for VfL Bochum in the summer of 2006, after Panathinaikos agreed to send the player to Germany, Gekas surprisingly topped the scoring charts at the end of the 2006/2007 season.

Scoring twenty goals, Gekas finished ahead of the likes of then Bayern Munich star Roy Makaay, and Swiss striker Alexander Frei by four goals to top the scoring chart.

A move to more luxurious Leverkusen followed suit for Gekas soon after he won the Bundesliga scoring crown, but while twenty-goals were desired, Gekas only managed to register eleven goals to wrap up his second season in the Bundesliga.

Always facing tough competition in the Leverkusen attack, thanks to the rivalry with Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kiessling, the first six months of the current season saw Gekas receive just a handful starts, and only a few more appearances as a substitute.

With the highly competitive surroundings of the Premier League, it will be interesting to see if Gekas can adjust to life in England in his first six months with Pompey.

Joining the Weserstadion side in the early weeks of the transfer window, after Panathinaikos and Bremen agreed to a six-month loan deal, Tziolis performance on Tuesday looks to foreshadow a very successful stay for the 23-year-old.

While the newest Greek in the Bundesliga got off to a fast start, the prior Greek arrival in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen’s Theofanis Gekas, returned to the scoring charts for the first time since October 24^th, 2008. On that ight he scored a late penalty goal against Bundesliga rivals FC Köln.

On Wednesday, Gekas struck the lone goal on eighty-five minutes in Leverkusen’s slim 1-0 win over FC Koblenz.