Sport Bild reports that Eintracht Frankfurt expendable Aurelio Buta may still be playing in the Bundesliga this season after a failed transfer to Panathinaikos. Buta’s move to the Greek outfit collapsed yesterday. The German tabloid reports that – despite the fact that Buta passed his medical – Panathinaikos attempted to use past knee surgery as an excuse to reduce the agreed-upon €1.5m transfer fee.
Eintracht – who also saw a potential transfer of defender Hrvoje Smolcic fall apart for similar reasons this summer – must now find another taker for the 28-year-old. Sport Bild lists two German top flight clubs as potential suitors. Union Berlin have reignited their previous interest. Newly-promoted Hamburg are reportedly also in the game.
Buta could also be in for a return to France. The former Portuguese youth international did well on loan at Stade Reims last season. Buta maintains an estimated market value of €5m, but Eintracht were clearly willing to let him go for significantly less than that. Buta enters the final year of his SGE contract, meaning that a loan is not an option.
GGFN | Peter Weis
