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Charalampos Mavrias is moving closer and closer towards becoming a Sunderland player as the rebuilding of the squad continues this summer.
It's been reported that Mavrias will be on Wearside to discuss personal terms and complete a medical ahead of a move to Paolo Di Canio's side, and that he's long been in the eyes of Sunderland despite interest only recently coming to light.
Reports out of Greece claim that Sunderland came to watch the Panathanikos attacking midfielder on no less than five occasions last season, with interest upped two weeks ago when Roberto De Fanti travelled to Greece to meet with Panathanikos Sporting Director and former Newcastle defender, Nikos Dabizas, to discuss a deal.
An initial bid was turned down for Mavrias, but an improved offer of around three million Euros has sealed the deal, with the promise of another one million should the highly-touted player hit performance targets, one of which is playing twenty first team games which would net Pana around 250,000 Euros.
Mavrias comes very highly-rated, and has risen very quickly through the ranks at Panathanikos having joined as a 12-year old, making the reserve team at just 15 and playing in the Champions League aged just 16.
Highly respected former scout and Sporting Director of Monaco, Watford, Leverkusen and others, Tor-Kristian Karlsen noted today on Twitter that he feels Sunderland may have got a steal in Mavrias;
Good move by Sunderland securing the services of Charis Mavrias from Panathinaikos. Only 19, attacking mf/winger with plenty of potential
— Tor-Kristian Karlsen (@karlsentk) July 4, 2013
Which certainly seems to match our current buying criteria.
The 19-year old is set to undergo a medical soon, which should go without a hitch despite him currently recovering from an abdominal injury. After that it's expected he'll put pen-to-paper on a 4-year contract.